The idea of the US government taking an equity stake in the country’s leading AI companies has gone from fringe policy discussion to genuine Washington debate. Former President Donald Trump floated the concept as part of his broader push to keep the US ahead of China in the AI race.
Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, has positioned himself squarely in support of Trump’s broader AI Action Plan, a July 2025 strategy built around deregulation and domestic investment.
The AI Action Plan vs. the ownership question
Kaplan has publicly backed the AI Action Plan, arguing it would enhance American innovation, create jobs, and strengthen national security. Meta has put its money where its mouth is, pledging hundreds of billions of dollars into US AI infrastructure, including data centers.
Trump’s proposal specifically targeted equity stakes in leading AI firms like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. Those discussions reportedly started in early 2025, with direct engagement between Trump and AI executives including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
