Trump Advisers Weigh AI Equity Stakes as OpenAI, Anthropic Near $1 Trillion Valuations
Updated
Updated · Semafor · Jun 17
Trump Advisers Weigh AI Equity Stakes as OpenAI, Anthropic Near $1 Trillion Valuations
3 articles · Updated · Semafor · Jun 17
Summary
Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick have discussed taking government equity stakes in major AI companies, with one option channeling shares into Trump Accounts and another into a sovereign-style fund.
The idea remains preliminary, with no decision made and no CEO summit yet, but Trump said he wants the top 12 to 15 AI executives to discuss the industry “giving back something to the public.”
Anthropic export controls imposed Friday have further strained the backdrop, risking a more confrontational tone with companies already cool to the proposal, including Microsoft and Meta.
OpenAI first floated versions of the concept, and Anthropic recently referenced sovereign wealth funds and capital accounts, yet lawmakers, lobbyists and policy experts question whether firms valued near $1 trillion would ever cede equity.
The biggest obstacle is practical as much as political: Congress is skeptical, AI valuations make stakes expensive, and many firms are unlikely to pay dividends for years, blurring what a government share would deliver.
Will government AI stakes create public wealth or just stifle American innovation?
How can the government be both a major AI investor and its unbiased regulator?
U.S. Government Eyes Equity Stakes in AI Giants Amid $87.5B IPO Surge: Public Wealth Funds and the Future of AI Prosperity
Overview
In early 2026, the global IPO market rebounded strongly, highlighted by SpaceX’s record-setting public offering, which aimed for a $1.75 trillion valuation and could become the largest IPO ever. This surge reflects not only renewed investor confidence but also the growing intensity of the artificial intelligence race, with major players like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic at the forefront. Investment banks are reviving aggressive research practices to support these high-profile listings, signaling a shift in market dynamics. The intersection of historic IPOs and the escalating AI competition is reshaping both financial markets and the future of technology leadership.