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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he's exploring having the federal government acquire shares in artificial intelligence companies, likening the concept to a "partnership with the American people."Trump said he will meet with executives of the nation's largest AI companies as early as next week to discuss the government potentially owning equity stake in "pieces" of their firms."There are concepts where pieces could be given to the American public, where the American public essentially becomes a partner with the companies," Trump told reporters on June 5 aboard Air Force One. "I have spoken to all of them," he said, referring to the AI companies. "There's something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public, and we'll look into that. We are looking."Trump's remarks came after NOTUS reported that senior Trump administration officials have discussed the possible acquisition of shares of AI firms with tech executives including Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, who first pitched the idea to Trump in early 2025.NOTUS, which cited three unnamed sources familiar with the talks, said discussions have involved firms voluntarily ceding the shares to the government, with returns on the investments going to public purposes, including a potential dividend payment to American households. How the government could legally compel the companies to turn over equity to the government is not clear. The size of the government's equity is also unclear."We're talking about it, where the American people could benefit from the success of AI," Trump said. "And by doing that, they're going to like it better."The rapid expansion of AI ‒ and its effects on the labor market and humanity itself ‒ has become a growing anxiety among Americans and people across the world. Trump this week signed an executive order that asks AI developers to voluntarily submit their models to the federal government to review for potential cybersecurity risks.In his second term, Trump has broken sharply with the historically hands-off approach of Republicans on the government's role with private enterprise in industries he's deemed critical for the country.Under Trump, the federal government acquired a 10% share in semiconductor giant Intel, shares in multiple companies that produce metals and minerals, and a so-called "golden share" in U.S. Steel Corporation that gives the government say over certain decision-making.With the government owning equity in AI, Trump would be embracing a concept also backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, a Democratic socialist ‒ albeit at a scale probably smaller than the senator has suggested.Sanders said he intends to introduce legislation soon that would seek to give the government 50% ownership of the nation's largest AI companies ‒ enough to effectively give the government decision-making control. His legislation would impose a one-time 50% tax on the companies' stocks, Sanders wrote in a June 1 New York Times op-ed.Trump, asked about Sanders's plan, told reporters, "I've been talking about it for the past year," adding that some voters who backed Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary supported him in the general election."As far as economics is concerned, we have some things that aren't that far apart," Trump said.Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
