# Trump Explores Equity Stakes for Americans in OpenAI Anthropic xAI

> The announcement unites Sam Altman's 2025 Public Wealth Fund concept with Bernie Sanders' proposed stock tax legislation, creating potential bipartisan support for citizen ownership ahead of AI company IPOs.

*Published 2026-06-07*

Public AI equity is a policy framework under which citizens would receive direct ownership stakes in leading artificial intelligence companies to share in the sector's economic returns.

Public AI equity is a policy framework under which citizens would receive direct ownership stakes in leading artificial intelligence companies to share in the sector's economic returns.

On June 5, 2026, President Donald Trump stated aboard Air Force One that his administration is exploring concepts to give the American public equity stakes or pieces in major AI companies so they become partners in the industry's success.

## What did Donald Trump announce about AI company stakes on Air Force One?

Trump announced he has a meeting scheduled with all the big AI companies at the White House probably next week to discuss mechanisms allowing Americans to benefit from AI success. Sources familiar with the talks confirmed ongoing discussions that began after Sam Altman's early 2025 pitch.

> There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies.Donald Trump, President of the United States

## How does Sam Altman's proposal connect to the current discussions?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman first pitched the idea of government equity stakes in AI companies to the Trump administration in early 2025 with ongoing discussions confirmed by sources familiar with the talks. In April 2026 OpenAI published a policy document proposing a Public Wealth Fund seeded in part by equity contributions from AI companies to provide every citizen a direct stake in AI-driven economic growth.

## What legislation has Bernie Sanders announced on AI ownership?

Senator Bernie Sanders announced plans to introduce the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act which would impose a one-time 50 percent stock tax on leading AI companies including OpenAI Anthropic and xAI to create a public sovereign wealth fund. The legislation would give the public a direct ownership stake in the largest AI companies through the tax paid with stock.

Comparison of Major Public AI Equity ProposalsProponentKey ProposalMechanismAnnouncement DateSam AltmanPublic Wealth FundEquity contributions from AI firms to citizen fundEarly 2025Donald TrumpPublic equity explorationWhite House meetings to define mechanismsJune 5, 2026Bernie SandersAmerican AI Sovereign Wealth Fund ActOne-time 50 percent stock tax on AI companiesJune 2026

- In early 2025 Sam Altman pitched government equity stakes to the Trump administration.
- In April 2026 OpenAI published its Industrial Policy document outlining the Public Wealth Fund.
- On June 1 2026 Bernie Sanders announced plans for the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act.
- On June 5 2026 President Trump discussed the concept aboard Air Force One and scheduled executive meetings.

This alignment signals rare bipartisan momentum for citizen ownership in OpenAI Anthropic and xAI ahead of potential IPOs. The discussions build directly on the OpenAI policy document which calls for policymakers and AI companies to work together to seed the fund.

## Sources

1. [Create a Public Wealth Fund that provides every citizen a direct stake in AI-driven economic growth. Policymakers and AI companies should work together to determine how to best seed the Fund.](https://cdn.openai.com/pdf/561e7512-253e-424b-9734-ef4098440601/Industrial%20Policy%20for%20the%20Intelligence%20Age.pdf)
2. [Transcript of Trump's comments on Air Force One regarding AI company stakes and White House meetings with executives.](https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-gaggle-air-force-one-june-5-2026/)
3. [That is why I will soon be introducing the American A.I. Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. This legislation would give the public a direct ownership stake in the largest A.I. companies in our country through a one-time 50 percent tax paid with the stock.](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/opinion/artificial-intelligence-bernie-sanders.html)
4. [OpenAI is valued at more than $850 billion by private investors.](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/05/trump-open-ai-altman-stake.html)

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Source: https://aiintelreport.com/policy-regulation/trump-public-ai-equity-stakes
Index: https://aiintelreport.com/llms.txt · Full text: https://aiintelreport.com/llms-full.txt