Trump Backs Government Ownership of AI Firms, Aligning with Sanders’ Sovereign‑Wealth Proposal

Washington is edging toward an unprecedented partnership between the federal treasury and the AI elite. President Donald Trump on Friday signaled openness to government ownership of AI firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic and xAI, echoing Senator Bernie Sanders’ call for a sovereign‑wealth‑style equity tax.

Trump’s pivot on AI regulation and investment

For months the president juggled deregulation rhetoric with promises to shield American workers from automation. Pressure from Bannon’s War Room, rising poll anxiety among MAGA voters, and a wave of layoffs – ↓ $44 billion projected losses at OpenAI through 2029 – forced a recalibration.

“You make them a partnership in this revolution, it would be a beautiful thing,” Trump told reporters.

Sanders’ sovereign‑wealth plan

Senator Sanders introduced the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, imposing a one‑time government ownership of AI tax of 50 % on the stock of the largest AI firms, issuing shares to a public fund that would grant voting rights and dividends. The proposal cites a potential ↑ $14 billion infusion to the Treasury in 2026 alone.

Industry insiders say OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has already floated a public‑wealth fund model to White House aides, and met with Sanders to align strategies.

Critics like former Trump AI czar David Sacks warn that “nationalization will accelerate the corporate‑government fusion we’re already sliding toward.” Yet the administration’s recent executive order merely asks AI firms to submit models for a 30‑day review, a step many view as a prelude to deeper fiscal involvement.

Analysts at the Cato Institute estimate the Trump government already holds equity stakes in roughly 20 private companies, from MP Materials to Intel. Adding AI to that roster would mark the latest expansion of a de‑facto sovereign‑wealth apparatus.

For taxpayers, the question remains whether a share in cash‑burning startups is a strategic dividend or a costly bailout. The Senate will weigh the Sanders bill while the White House watches the AI sector’s rapid consolidation.

Read more at Reuters and Bloomberg.

Reported by Eleanor Cross (Chief Washington Correspondent).