President Donald Trump said Friday that he is open to the federal government acquiring equity stakes in leading artificial intelligence companies, arguing that Americans should share in the enormous wealth the technology could create.
“There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public, and we’ll look into that.”
Trump said he plans to discuss the idea with AI executives as early as next week. He indicated that preliminary conversations have already taken place but offered few details about how the proposal would work.
“We’re talking about it, where the American people can benefit from the success of AI,” Trump said. “It would be a beautiful thing. And it would make them rich.”
The remarks come as policymakers debate whether the public should receive a share of the profits generated by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Major AI developers could eventually reach enormous valuations, even as concerns grow about job losses, rising electricity costs and the economic disruption caused by the technology.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman raised the possibility of government stakes in leading AI firms with the Trump administration in early 2025, according to a person familiar with the discussions. OpenAI later proposed the creation of a “Public Wealth Fund” that would allow Americans to participate directly in AI-driven economic growth.
The details remain unclear. It is not known whether the government would purchase shares, receive donated equity or pursue another arrangement. The Trump administration has already taken investment positions in several companies, particularly in the critical-minerals sector, and has committed to acquiring up to a 10% stake in Intel.
The debate intensified this week after Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation requiring major AI companies to transfer 50% of their stock to the federal government. The shares would support a sovereign wealth fund intended to distribute the benefits of AI growth more broadly.
“Since AI is built on the collective knowledge of humanity, the wealth it generates must benefit humanity,” Sanders wrote in a New York Times opinion piece announcing the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act.
The proposal faces skepticism from Republicans and steep odds in Congress. Sanders met with Altman on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to discuss AI regulation and the influence of technology money in politics. Altman also met with lawmakers from both parties, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as White House officials.
Some conservatives have warned that government ownership of AI companies could give Washington too much influence over the industry.
While I’m no fan of socialism or arbitrary confiscations of wealth, I can see why Bernie Sanders’ proposal (for the government to take a 50% stake in AI companies) resonates, including with many on the right.
The CEOs of the leading AI labs have told us repeatedly that they will… https://t.co/CqWYYhkDhC
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) June 5, 2026
“Nationalization of AI will accelerate the corporate-government fusion we’re already sliding toward,” David Sacks, a venture capitalist and former White House AI adviser, wrote on Twitter. “America won’t win the AI race if we beat China but end up with a CCP-style social credit system in the US — and that is the danger as the government becomes more deeply involved in AI development and assumes direct ownership and control.”
