OpenAI in Talks to Grant U.S. Government 5% Ownership Stake

Key Points

• OpenAI is negotiating to provide the U.S. government with a 5% ownership position
• Sam Altman has engaged in discussions with President Trump, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
• Additional American AI companies may be requested to provide comparable equity stakes, though their participation remains uncertain
• This development aligns with Senator Bernie Sanders’ advocacy for public participation in AI-generated prosperity
• The current administration has previously acquired stakes in Intel, MP Materials, Lithium Americas, and Trilogy Metals

According to a Thursday report from the Financial Times, OpenAI is negotiating a deal that would grant the U.S. government a 5% ownership stake in the company. This initiative represents part of a strategic effort to strengthen relationships with the current administration.

Sam Altman, the company’s CEO, has conducted meetings with high-ranking government figures, including President Donald Trump, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Sources indicate Altman has also engaged in conversations with Senator Bernie Sanders regarding this equity arrangement.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm these details. Neither OpenAI nor the White House provided responses to inquiries.

Expanding the Framework for AI Profit Sharing

The equity offer extends beyond OpenAI alone. This framework could potentially require other U.S.-based artificial intelligence companies to provide comparable 5% stakes to the federal government, although whether these companies would voluntarily participate remains undetermined.

This proposal ties into larger discussions surrounding AI wealth distribution. Back in April, OpenAI suggested establishing a public wealth fund designed to provide every American citizen with ownership in AI-fueled economic expansion.

Sanders has actively championed legislation supporting these principles. His American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act could potentially reach approximately $7 trillion in value. He has consistently maintained that profits generated by AI technology should not remain concentrated among a limited circle of tech executives.

AI corporations are simultaneously encountering increased scrutiny from lawmakers concerning data center proliferation, workforce automation concerns, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Government Equity Acquisitions Under Current Administration

This wouldn’t mark the first instance of the Trump administration securing ownership stakes in private enterprises.

During 2025, the government obtained a 9.9% ownership position in Intel through the purchase of 433.3 million shares priced at $20.47 per share. This $8.9 billion transaction was connected to CHIPS Act funding.

Given Intel’s current trading price near $127, that investment has grown to approximately $55 billion in value — representing roughly a 6.2x return on the initial capital deployed. Trump has publicly expressed regret about not negotiating for a more substantial ownership percentage.

The administration has also secured a 15% stake in rare earth mining company MP Materials, alongside a 10% position in Lithium Americas, a 10% stake in Trilogy Metals, and a “golden share” arrangement in U.S. Steel that provides veto authority over significant corporate decisions without traditional equity ownership.

These discussions with OpenAI remain in preliminary phases. As of Thursday morning, neither OpenAI nor the White House has provided official confirmation regarding these negotiations.

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