OpenAI Reportedly Offers U.S. Government 5% Equity Stake in the Company

TLDR

• OpenAI is reportedly offering the Trump administration a 5% equity stake in the company
• CEO Sam Altman has held talks with Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
• Other U.S. AI firms could be asked to offer similar stakes, though their willingness is unclear
• The move follows Senator Bernie Sanders’ push for public ownership of AI-generated wealth
• The Trump administration already holds stakes in Intel, MP Materials, Lithium Americas, and Trilogy Metals

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OpenAI is in discussions to offer the U.S. government a 5% equity stake, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The proposal is part of a wider effort by the company to build closer ties with the Trump administration.

CEO Sam Altman has been meeting with senior officials, including President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Altman has also reportedly spoken with Senator Bernie Sanders about the proposal.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. OpenAI and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.

A Broader Plan for AI Wealth Distribution

The proposal goes beyond just OpenAI. The arrangement could see other American AI companies offer a similar 5% stake to the government, though it is not yet clear if those firms would agree to do so.

The idea connects to a broader conversation about who benefits from AI. In April, OpenAI proposed creating a public wealth fund that would give every U.S. citizen a stake in AI-driven economic growth.

Sanders has been pushing for legislation along similar lines. His American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act could grow to roughly $7 trillion. He has argued that AI’s financial gains should not be concentrated among a small group of wealthy tech leaders.

AI companies are also facing growing scrutiny in Washington over data center expansion, job displacement, and cybersecurity risks.

The Trump Administration’s Track Record of Taking Equity Stakes

This would not be the first time the Trump administration has taken an ownership position in a private company.

In 2025, the government acquired a 9.9% stake in Intel by purchasing 433.3 million shares at $20.47 each. That was an $8.9 billion investment tied to the CHIPS Act.

With Intel now trading around $127, that stake is worth roughly $55 billion — a return of about 6.2 times the original investment. Trump has previously said he regrets not asking for a larger share.

The administration also holds a 15% stake in rare earth producer MP Materials, a 10% stake in Lithium Americas, a 10% stake in Trilogy Metals, and a so-called “golden share” in U.S. Steel, which gives the government veto power over major corporate decisions rather than a traditional equity position.

The OpenAI proposal is still in early stages. Neither OpenAI nor the White House has officially confirmed the talks as of Thursday morning.

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