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The Trump administration is in preliminary talks with OpenAI about the U.S. government taking a voluntary equity stake in the company, with the proposed structure centered on OpenAI donating shares to a public wealth fund that would distribute AI gains to Americans.[1][2] Trump publicly confirmed on June 6, 2026, that the government is actively considering purchasing stakes in leading AI companies.[7][8] A parallel legislative proposal from Senator Bernie Sanders — the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act — would compel major AI companies to transfer 50% of their stock to a government-administered public fund through a mandatory one-time levy.[10][11] Both approaches aim at public co-ownership of AI's economic gains but differ sharply in mechanism: voluntary donation versus forced transfer.[21][22]

U.S. government equity in private AI companies would be a significant departure from conventional American economic policy. The convergence of a Republican administration and a left-wing senator on public co-ownership of AI — through opposite mechanisms — reflects the breadth of concern that AI's economic benefits will concentrate narrowly. Critics from libertarian and market-competition perspectives argue the proposals would entrench incumbents and misapply standard ownership logic to an industry whose economics differ from traditional capital.

On June 5, 2026, CNBC and the Financial Times reported that the Trump administration and OpenAI are in preliminary talks about the U.S. government taking a voluntary equity stake in the company.[1][2][3] The proposed structure would have OpenAI donate shares to a government-administered public wealth fund — a model OpenAI itself had promoted in its April 2026 policy paper calling for public ownership of AI-related assets.[4][5] Sam Altman reportedly brought this concept to the Trump administration in 2025.[6] Trump confirmed the discussions on June 6, saying the AI industry is 'so big that there are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public becomes a partner with the companies.'[7][8][9]

A structurally parallel but mechanically distinct proposal from Senator Bernie Sanders — the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act — would impose a mandatory one-time 50% equity transfer from major AI companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI to a government-administered sovereign wealth fund.[10][11][12] Sanders introduced the idea in a June 1 New York Times op-ed, arguing that 'if AI is going to transform society, society should share in the wealth it creates.'[13] Despite coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum, both the Trump approach and the Sanders proposal converge on the idea that the public should hold an ownership stake in AI's economic output.

Criticism of the Sanders bill has come from multiple directions. Reason.com published a substantive critique arguing the bill reflects a misunderstanding of both AI economics and how wealth creation works.[14] Some commentators have characterized the proposal as 'symbolic' — a political statement with little realistic legislative path in the current Congress.[15] The Taxpayers Protection Alliance framed it as a forced confiscation of private company equity.[16] From a market-competition standpoint, critics separately argue that government equity stakes in private AI companies entrench current market leaders before the competitive landscape has settled.[17][18]

Whether the Trump administration's discussions with OpenAI advance beyond preliminary talks remains open, as does whether other major AI labs would be drawn into similar arrangements.[19] Some observers interpret the administration's primary motivation as fiscal revenue generation rather than public welfare or AI governance oversight.[20] The Sanders bill faces a steeper path: no Republican cosponsors have been reported, and critics across the political spectrum have questioned both its design and its viability.