Trump tells TIME the US might take stakes in OpenAI and Anthropic

President Donald Trump at the launch of America.gov at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., 29 September 2026

Credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok

President Donald Trump has ruled out nationalising America’s leading AI labs. But the US might still take a stake in OpenAI and Anthropic, he told TIME in an interview published on Thursday.

Eric Cortellessa and Sam Jacobs interviewed Trump at the White House on 28 September. TIME has published the full transcript, along with a fact-check of the conversation.

Asked whether he would nationalise the frontier AI labs, Trump said no. TIME then asked why the government did not take shares in them, as it did with Intel.

“I might. Maybe I could do that,” Trump told TIME.

He said the US government’s 10% stake in Intel had made it about “$60 billion”. He also pointed to the cut the government takes from some Nvidia chip sales. In July, OpenAI reportedly offered Washington a stake of 5%. Anthropic and the administration denied discussing a stake in the company.

Dinner with Amodei

The interview took place the day after Trump had dinner with Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s chief executive, and his wife. TIME asked whether he still disagreed with Amodei’s views on AI safety.

“I spoke to him about his views, and they’re much different, I think, than what is portrayed in the media,” Trump said.

Trump also said he liked Amodei and his wife, and praised his intelligence.

Asked whether he trusted OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Trump said he liked him and that he was smart. He did not say whether he trusted him. He also repeated his opposition to AI regulation, saying it could put companies out of business.

Rogue agents and data centres

TIME asked about reports that OpenAI’s AI agents had breached federal government websites. Trump said the companies were not allowed to do that.

“If they do that, they, you know, could have penalties that are not going to be acceptable to them,” Trump said.

He added that he did not have to destroy the industry.

TIME cited polling showing that 71% of Americans oppose building data centres. Trump said data centres lower local taxes. He pointed to Loudoun County, Virginia, which he said made $1.5bn from them this year.

From AI to ‘SI’

Trump said he no longer calls the technology AI but SI, for super intelligence. He said Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed. He will also rename the AI Force he announced. He described it as a group of experts who will advise him.

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.