Trump administration and OpenAI discuss potential U.S. equity stake, CNBC reports

Investing.com -- The Trump administration and OpenAI are engaged in ongoing discussions regarding a potential government equity stake in the artificial intelligence startup. According to a report from CNBC on Friday, OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and White House officials have been exploring the arrangement for over a year.

The initial concept was first presented to the Trump administration by Altman in 2025, according to a source familiar with the matter cited by CNBC. Discussions continued this week in Washington, D.C., where Altman met with a range of lawmakers and officials to discuss regulation and recent AI developments.

Under the framework of the potential agreement, the artificial intelligence startup could donate equity to the federal government. This equity would be used to seed a sovereign investment vehicle similar to the "Public Wealth Fund" outlined in OpenAI's April policy proposal.

According to that proposal, the fund would invest in diversified, long-term assets to ensure national prosperity. The structure would allow American citizens to participate directly in the financial upside of AI growth, possibly through direct returns.

President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing talks while speaking with reporters on board Air Force One on Friday. “There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner,” he said.

The president added that he is scheduling meetings with various AI companies in the very short, very near future. This initiative aligns with an executive order Trump signed in February that called for the federal government to establish a national sovereign wealth fund.

The administration has already taken financial stakes in Intel, International Business Machines, and other critical quantum and mineral companies during Trump's second term. No official investment terms have been finalized for OpenAI, and the details of the arrangement remain subject to change.

Private investors valued OpenAI at more than $850 billion in its latest funding round from March as the company continues to scale its operations. The artificial intelligence pioneer is currently gearing up for an initial public offering that could occur as soon as this year.

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