On Friday, President Donald Trump stated that he has held discussions with AI companies regarding agreements that would allow the American public to share in the benefits of AI’s success. Trump hasn’t named any specific companies in his remarks, but OpenAI appears to be a prime candidate—particularly after CNBC reported that the Trump administration has been in talks with the AI firm about taking an equity stake. According to CNBC, part of that equity could help fund the “Public Wealth Fund” that OpenAI recently proposed. According to the company, money from the fund “could be paid out directly to citizens, enabling more people to share in the gains from AI-powered growth no matter their initial wealth or access to investment capital.” Bloomberg reports that when journalists aboard Air Force One asked Trump about the proposal, he said he had been discussing with AI executives the idea of giving portions to the American public so that citizens would essentially become partners with the companies. Bloomberg reports that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been in talks about a possible government ownership stake in leading AI companies since early 2025. The idea appears to fit with Trump’s wider support for government equity in for-profit businesses — highlighted by the 10% stake the U.S. government took in Intel last year. The concept has also gained support on the left: Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a one-time 50% tax on companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and OpenAI (part of SpaceX), to be paid in the form of stock. With several of these firms expected to go public this year, Sanders argues the tax would “give the public a direct role in determining the future of this technology” and “guarantee that the trillions of dollars potentially generated by A.I. are used to improve the lives of all of us.” David Sacks, an investor and podcaster who recently resigned as Trump’s AI and crypto czar, said he understands why Sanders’ proposal appeals to many—including plenty on the right—but cautioned that it would hasten the corporate-government fusion already underway. (Sacks now co-chairs the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.) On other social media platforms, ex-Microsoft worker Dare Obasanjo remarked that “preparations are already underway for a government bailout of OpenAI.”
