'It would make 'em rich': Trump looks to secure government stake in US AI giants

• Trump is talking to AI leaders about investing in their companies
• POTUS believes "the American people will like [AI] better" as a result
• AI firms might end up donating some equity into a Public Wealth Fund

The US government has reportedly been liaising with ChatGPT maker OpenAI on holding equity stakes in major AI companies, including OpenAI itself.

The move stems from an idea first raised by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in 2025 as part of a broader concept to ensure that the economic gains from AI reflect the interest of American citizens, but discussions look to have moved forward.

Though a final decision has not been reached yet, it could involve AI companies donating some equity into a government-backed Public Wealth Fund.

Could AI companies be forced to donate equity to the US government?

Speaking on Air Force One (per CNBC reporting), President Donald Trump said his administration would consider investing in AI companies to "create almost a partnership with the American public," noting that discussions are already in progress.

"We're talking about it," POTUS added, indicating that "where the American people can benefit from the success of AI, the American people will like it better."

"It would be a beautiful thing," he declared about the partnership that would make American citizens beneficiaries of the proposed investments. "It would make 'em rich."

By linking itself financially to AI companies, the US Government could help to improve the public perception of AI and share the associated wealth with the country by means of additional funding, however critics are likely to question the potential part-state ownership of AI firms like OpenAI.

Separately, Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark told the BBC that the Claude maker is "in daily conversations with the US government and we're finding ways to be helpful to national security." Anthropic has spoken out in favor of the potential US deal.