Trump Administration Explores OpenAI Stake to Share AI Wealth with Americans

The administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to take an unprecedented and historic step to channel the extraordinary commercial success of artificial intelligence (AI) technology directly toward the welfare of ordinary Americans. The U.S. government has begun discussions regarding the acquisition of a significant equity stake in OpenAI, the world-renowned AI research company and creator of ChatGPT.

Last Friday, President Donald Trump himself hinted at the possibility of reaching such an agreement with leading AI companies, through which “the American people can directly benefit from the AI revolution.”

Although President Trump did not mention any company by name, a special report by global news outlet CNBC confirmed that the Trump administration has already advanced discussions with OpenAI regarding government participation or equity ownership in the company.

‘Public Wealth Fund’ and Trump’s Vision

According to CNBC, dividends generated from the government’s stake in OpenAI would be used to establish a special “Public Wealth Fund,” a concept reportedly proposed by OpenAI itself.

Under the company’s framework, profits generated through this fund could be distributed directly among ordinary citizens. As a result, every citizen—regardless of whether they possess initial capital or assets—would be able to share in the economic growth driven by AI.

According to Bloomberg, when journalists aboard the presidential aircraft Air Force One questioned Trump about the proposal, he responded positively, saying:

“I’m talking with several AI executives about concepts where portions of these companies could be given to the American people. As a result, Americans would essentially become partners in these visionary companies.”

Notably, OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman had also been promoting the idea of government ownership or stakes in major AI companies since early 2025.

Trump’s Business Philosophy and Bernie Sanders’ Policy Proposal

Government ownership in profitable private companies aligns closely with Trump’s current economic philosophy. A notable example emerged last year when the U.S. government acquired a 10 percent stake in American chipmaker Intel in an effort to rescue the company during a period of financial difficulty.

In a surprising development, Trump’s thinking has also gained support from Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent left-wing political figure in the United States.

Earlier this week, Sanders proposed a new policy under which leading AI companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI (now part of SpaceX) would be subject to a one-time 50 percent special tax. However, instead of paying the tax in cash, the companies would provide it in the form of stock or shares to the government.

There is widespread speculation that these major AI firms could enter the stock market during 2026.

Against this backdrop, Sanders argues that such a tax would provide the public with a direct role in shaping the future of the technology and ensure that the potentially trillions of dollars in profits generated by AI are used to improve the quality of life of ordinary people rather than benefiting only a small group of wealthy capitalists.

Criticism and ‘Government Bailout’ Speculation

However, the ambitious proposal has already sparked intense debate and criticism throughout Silicon Valley.

David Sacks, Trump’s former AI and crypto adviser—who recently stepped down and now serves as Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology—wrote on social media that he understands why Sanders’ proposal is attracting support from both the political left and right. However, he warned:

“This would accelerate the dangerous merger between corporations and government that we are already moving toward.”

Meanwhile, former Microsoft executive Dare Obasanjo has fueled a different narrative. In a social media post, he suggested:

“What’s really happening is the creation of a subtle framework for using government funds to rescue OpenAI if it encounters financial trouble.”

Whether Trump’s potential AI initiative represents a new form of socially oriented capitalism for the U.S. economy or a strategic move that primarily benefits OpenAI remains the subject of intense debate among technology and political analysts worldwide.

DBTech/BMT/OR