White House Is Negotiating a Possible Equity Stake in OpenAI

Overview

• President Donald Trump said Friday he has discussed proposals with AI executives and plans to convene a meeting with company leaders in the coming days to explore partnership ideas.
• Multiple reports say U.S. officials and OpenAI are negotiating a potential state equity stake in the company but that terms remain unsettled and the talks are still developing.
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been meeting with lawmakers and administration officials in Washington this week and first proposed a public-wealth fund concept in April 2025.
• The negotiations sit alongside recent White House moves to create a federal sovereign fund, an order that seeks early government access to advanced AI models, and prior purchases of stakes in strategic tech firms such as Intel and IBM.
• Any deal would carry large market and policy consequences because OpenAI is valued at more than $850 billion, is planning a possible 2026 IPO, and could change how AI profits, oversight, and national-security access are managed for U.S. citizens.