Trump weighs Intel-style ownership stakes in OpenAI and Anthropic

President Donald Trump said he might pursue an ownership deal with OpenAI and Anthropic, the two most closely watched names in artificial intelligence. The idea is reportedly aimed at sharing AI-driven wealth with the American public. It would also turn Washington from regulator into shareholder of the companies it is supposed to be overseeing. The Intel blueprint The template already exists. In August 2025, the Trump administration converted $8.9 billion in federal CHIPS Act funding into a roughly 10% equity stake in Intel. That stake was structured as non-voting. The government got a piece of the upside without a seat in the boardroom, at least on paper. According to the research findings, Trump first raised the idea of exploring equity partnerships with AI firms in June 2026. His latest comments suggest the concept has not gone away. Altman is already on board. Anthropic, not so much OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been the most enthusiastic participant. He reportedly proposed a 5% government stake in OpenAI to Trump as early as 2025. Based on a recent valuation of about $852 billion, that 5% slice would be worth approximately $42.6 billion. For comparison, that is several times the $...