The US government wants a piece of OpenAI. And not in the regulatory, antitrust, slap-on-the-wrist kind of way. We’re talking an actual equity stake, the kind where Uncle Sam shows up on the cap table.
Discussions between OpenAI and the White House have been underway since early 2025, with conversations progressing to the point where President Trump publicly addressed the idea on June 5, 2026, during a flight on Air Force One. The concept: the American public becoming stakeholders in the company building some of the most consequential technology of the century.
What’s actually on the table
Trump indicated during his Air Force One remarks that discussions are considering not just OpenAI but potentially other leading AI companies too. The administration appears interested in investing directly in what it views as pivotal sectors of the economy.
OpenAI is currently valued at over $850 billion and is reportedly preparing for an IPO. The specifics, including how large a stake the government might acquire and when any deal might close, remain uncertain.
