Donald Trump announced the US may take equity stakes in AI companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI, positioning this as a way for "American people to benefit" from the technology. Trump said federal discussions would turn the government into an "essential partner" with these companies, following his administration's existing investments in strategic sectors like Intel and quantum computing start-ups.

The proposal gained traction after progressive Senator Bernie Sanders suggested a 50% tax on AI lab stock to fund a sovereign wealth fund. Trump adviser David Sacks condemned the idea as "nationalization of AI," warning it could create a "CCP-style social credit system" in the US. Trump acknowledged Sanders' idea resonated with some MAGA voters concerned about AI's impact on jobs and safety.

With trillion-dollar valuations expected from upcoming IPOs by Anthropic, SpaceX, and OpenAI, any government equity stake would represent massive financial exposure. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had already advocated for government ownership, proposing a public wealth fund. Palantir's Alex Karp warned AI leaders they're "chillaxing" while momentum builds for nationalization, positioning this as a pivotal moment for the industry's future structure.