OpenAI is reportedly considering offering the U.S. government a 5% equity stake as part of a broader effort to deepen ties with the Trump administration and secure financial backing.
CEO Sam Altman has reportedly held preliminary discussions with the Trump administration about a proposal to distribute AI-driven financial gains to the public, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
Altman has been actively engaging with key figures in the administration, including President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to the FT report, Altman has also recently spoken with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on the matter.
This potential agreement could also see other American AI firms offer a similar stake, although their readiness to do so has yet to be confirmed, according to the report.
OpenAI and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Sanders Pushes AI Equity
This move comes in the wake of Sanders' call for expanded public ownership of AI-driven wealth. He has argued that the benefits of AI should not be controlled solely by wealthy tech leaders. Sanders has also introduced legislation for the proposed American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, which could see the fund grow to approximately $7 trillion.
Meanwhile, in April, OpenAI proposed creating a public wealth fund that would give every citizen a stake in AI-driven economic growth. The company says such a fund could provide people with a lasting share of the value generated by AI, even if they are not invested in financial markets.
AI labs are facing increased scrutiny in Washington over data center expansion, job losses, and cybersecurity risks, with regulators delaying the release of advanced AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic amid calls from some Republicans and Trump advisers for stricter oversight.
Trump Administration's High-Profile Stakes
The Trump administration has been actively acquiring stakes in several companies. In 2025, the government acquired a 9.9% stake in Intel Corporation (INTC), purchasing 433.3 million shares at $20.47 each through an $8.9 billion investment tied to the CHIPS Act and Secure Enclave funding.
At Intel's current price of $127.02, the government's stake is now worth approximately $55.03 billion, representing an unrealized gain of about $46.13 billion, or roughly a 6.2x return on the original $8.9 billion investment. Trump has also expressed regret in the past for not asking for a larger stake in Intel, considering its skyrocketing stock price.
Besides Intel, the Trump administration has also acquired a 15% stake in rare earth producer MP Materials (MP), a 10% stake in Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC), a 10% stake in Trilogy Metals Inc. (TMQ), and a "golden share" (veto power over major corporate decisions, rather than a traditional equity stake) in US Steel Corporation as part of its acquisition by Japan's Nippon Steel Corp. (OTCPK: NISTF).
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