Trump Administration Weighs Equity Stake in OpenAI, CNBC Reports

President Donald Trump said on June 5, 2026, that he is in talks with AI companies about deals where Americans can share in their success, with OpenAI likely a candidate, CNBC reported. The discussions could see equity used to seed a "Public Wealth Fund" proposed by OpenAI, which would distribute proceeds directly to citizens. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been discussing a government stake with officials since early 2025, Bloomberg said. The move aligns with Trump's broader interest in government ownership of for-profit firms, including a potential 10% stake in Intel. Senator Bernie Sanders this week proposed a one-time 50% tax on AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI, payable in stock, arguing it would give the public a role in AI's future and guarantee trillions in potential value are shared. David Sacks, Trump's former AI and crypto czar, warned such ideas could "accelerate the corporate-government fusion."