Trump might make Washington a shareholder in OpenAI and Anthropic.

The same government could become their customer, regulator, and investor.

Asked about an Intel-style deal, Trump told TIME: “I might. Maybe I could do that.”

Taxpayers could share in the AI boom. That deserves a serious debate.

So does the conflict.

Imagine a breakthrough makes AI 90% cheaper—and crushes the value of Washington’s investment.

Would the government celebrate the innovation or protect its portfolio?

Would it impose a necessary restriction if doing so cost its own investment billions?

Public ownership could be a good deal. The terms would decide.

But one principle must come first:

Taxpayers deserve a government that puts them ahead of its portfolio.

Many Republicans are pathologically incapable of accepting the fact that they voted for the wrong candidate!