The U.S. government doesn't usually own pieces of private tech companies, but it's about to grab a stake in one of the biggest.
The strange part? OpenAI pitched the idea itself.
The Deal On The Table
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he's been talking with AI executives about "concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies."
CNBC reported the talks are with OpenAI, and some of that equity would seed a "Public Wealth Fund" - an idea OpenAI floated earlier this year.
The fund would take proceeds from the government's AI stake and send them straight to U.S. citizens, with CEO Sam Altman quietly pushing versions of the plan since early 2025.
Payouts would track how the government's AI shares perform - closer to a dividend than a one-time stimulus check.
OpenAI was last valued at $852 billion after closing a $122 billion funding round in March, which would make any government stake one of the largest taxpayer-held equity positions outside of a bank bailout.
So the company isn't being dragged into this. It's inviting it in.
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The Bipartisan Twist
Bernie Sanders wants the same thing - just harsher.
This week the senator pitched a one-time 50% tax on OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI, paid in stock instead of cash. His goal: "guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us."
Sanders has spent years pitching wealth-redistribution plans, so his version isn't a shock. The surprise is the White House landing on a softer take of the same idea from the other end of the spectrum.
Why OpenAI Might Want This
This isn't the first time the Trump team has taken stock in a private company. Last year it picked up a 10% stake in Intel, framed as a backstop for the struggling chipmaker.
OpenAI isn't struggling - it's lining up for one of the most-watched IPOs of the decade, alongside Anthropic and xAI.
A government shareholder gives all three something useful: political cover, regulatory goodwill, and a built-in answer to anyone asking who AI is being built for.
David Sacks, who recently stepped down as Trump's AI and crypto czar, said he understands the appeal but warned the move would "accelerate the corporate-government fusion we're already sliding toward."
What To Watch
Three of the most valuable AI companies on the planet are heading for the public markets this year, and a government stake in any one of them changes how Wall Street prices the other two.
The structure matters as much as the size. A passive stake leaves OpenAI in control, while a voting stake puts Washington in the boardroom.
If the OpenAI deal closes, Anthropic and xAI are next in line.
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