Reports Say OpenAI Is Discussing a Proposed 5% Stake for the Trump Administration

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is in early discussions about offering the U.S. government a 5% equity stake, according to reports that also cite political pressure and ongoing federal scrutiny of advanced AI systems. The discussions, described as “early conversations,” have been reported by the Financial Times and were further summarized by Reuters and other outlets on July 2, with OpenAI and the White House not immediately providing responses to requests for comment.

According to reporting, the potential structure would be designed to align the government’s financial exposure with the company’s growth, effectively giving the public a share in the upside from the technology. CNN reported that Sam Altman has argued such an arrangement would allow public benefit from AI expansion, a claim that the reporting attributed to Altman and framed as a rationale for the proposal.

The proposed stake would be tied to a valuation figure of $852 billion, the valuation cited by CNN as coming from a funding round in March. On that basis, CNN estimated that a 5% share would be worth about $42.6 billion. Reuters similarly described the discussions as involving a 5% stake but did not, in the material referenced here, add new valuation details beyond what other outlets reported.

The reported discussions also come as the Trump administration has increasingly addressed how advanced AI models should be released, including arrangements that involve government-approved partners. CNN reported that the White House requested OpenAI limit the release of its upcoming GPT 5.6 model to a small number of government-approved partners because of its advanced capabilities, citing a source familiar with the situation. CNN also said that President Donald Trump told reporters last month he planned to meet with top AI executives to discuss options that would allow the government to benefit from the industry’s growth.

Other AI companies have also faced government actions and export controls connected to advanced systems, according to the same reporting. CNN reported that the company Anthropic said the U.S. government lifted export controls on its most advanced models after negotiations, placing the proposed OpenAI stake discussions in the broader context of federal oversight and compliance negotiations.

No final agreement was reported in the July 2 accounts. The discussions were characterized as early and under consideration, with the White House and OpenAI reportedly not providing immediate confirmation or details on timing, governance terms, or how the government would exercise or limit its rights as an equity holder. If such a deal advances, questions would likely turn on the legal and procurement pathway for a federal equity investment, the role of any existing government investment vehicles, and the conditions under which access to model capabilities, data, and release schedules might be coordinated with the terms of ownership.

The proposal would also raise questions about transparency and accountability for federal participation in the fast-moving AI sector. Because the reporting centers on discussions rather than a signed arrangement, the practical impact would depend on how any stake is structured, including whether it is held by a specific government entity, what voting or governance rights are granted, and how conflicts could be handled between public interest objectives and commercial decision-making.