Trump to Meet AI Executives at White House to Discuss 50% Public Ownership Stake

President Trump said Friday that executives from leading AI companies will visit the White House, probably next week, to discuss a partnership that would give the American public a stake in AI success. The announcement came days after one executive met privately with a senator in the senator’s office for nearly an hour at the executive’s request.

The senator had proposed that the public take a 50 percent ownership stake in AI companies such as OpenAI through a public wealth fund.

The executive told the senator he also wants the public to hold equity in AI companies but could not support the 50 percent threshold, according to people familiar with the conversation. The senator’s team said the two did not reach agreement on the senator’s main points, including the 50 percent figure and limits on AI industry election spending.

President Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, described the idea as “a partnership with the American public” and noted similarities between his voters and those who supported the senator.

The administration last year secured a 10 percent stake in Intel and considered a government takeover of Spirit Airlines earlier this year, though the airline closed after failing to reach a deal. Congress this week released a bipartisan framework for the first broad federal approach to AI regulation while temporarily preempting many state laws.

The Trump administration signed an executive order establishing a review process for national security risks from advanced AI systems before public release. The senator said the administration’s move was notable after years of warnings that regulation could slow innovation.

“Even these guys are beginning to catch on that there are legitimate concerns that have to be dealt with,” the senator said.

Data center projects have drawn local opposition over electricity demand, water use, and environmental impacts. Some states that once offered tax incentives have begun reconsidering them. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley told The Associated Press that legislation is needed to require data centers to pay for their own electricity, grids, and water supply.

A 2025 Harvard Kennedy School poll found that about 70 percent of college students view AI as a threat to job prospects. The executive said the job impact has been less than many in the field expected but acknowledged anxiety among students about the future.