Key Highlights
- ChatGPT creator OpenAI is negotiating to grant the federal government a 5% ownership position
- Sam Altman has engaged in discussions with President Trump, Commerce Secretary Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Bessent
- The proposal may extend to additional American artificial intelligence companies, though their participation remains uncertain
- This initiative aligns with Senator Bernie Sanders’ advocacy for public participation in AI-generated prosperity
- The current administration has already secured equity positions in Intel, MP Materials, Lithium Americas, and Trilogy Metals
According to a Financial Times report published Thursday, OpenAI has entered negotiations to provide the federal government with a 5% equity position. This strategic move represents part of the company’s broader initiative to strengthen its relationship with the current administration.
Sam Altman, the company’s chief executive, has conducted meetings with key government figures, including President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Sources indicate Altman has also engaged Senator Bernie Sanders regarding this equity proposal.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm these details. Neither OpenAI nor the White House provided responses when contacted for official statements.
Expanding Public Ownership Across the AI Sector
The initiative extends beyond OpenAI alone. Under this framework, additional American artificial intelligence firms might be encouraged to provide comparable 5% government stakes, although whether these companies would voluntarily participate remains undetermined.
This concept ties into larger debates surrounding AI’s economic benefits. Earlier this year in April, OpenAI unveiled a proposal for establishing a public wealth fund that would distribute AI-driven economic advantages to all American citizens.
Sanders has championed related legislative efforts. His proposed American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act envisions a fund potentially valued at approximately $7 trillion. The Senator maintains that artificial intelligence profits shouldn’t remain concentrated within a narrow circle of affluent technology executives.
Artificial intelligence corporations face mounting Washington oversight concerning data center infrastructure expansion, workforce automation concerns, and national security vulnerabilities.
Federal Government’s Previous Corporate Investment Strategy
This wouldn’t mark the Trump administration’s inaugural venture into private sector ownership.
Earlier in 2025, federal authorities secured a 9.9% position in Intel through the acquisition of 433.3 million shares priced at $20.47 per share. This $8.9 billion transaction was connected to CHIPS Act funding.
With Intel shares currently trading near $127, that investment now carries an approximate value of $55 billion — representing roughly a 6.2x return on the initial capital deployed. Trump has publicly expressed dissatisfaction about not demanding a more substantial ownership percentage.
The administration maintains additional holdings including a 15% stake in rare earth materials company MP Materials, 10% positions in both Lithium Americas and Trilogy Metals, plus a specialized “golden share” arrangement in U.S. Steel that provides veto authority over significant corporate decisions without traditional equity ownership.
The OpenAI equity arrangement remains in preliminary discussion phases. As of Thursday morning, neither OpenAI nor White House officials have issued formal confirmation of these negotiations.
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