Voters Wary of Government Ownership in Companies
A new CNBC poll reveals that nearly half of American voters believe it's inappropriate for the federal government to take ownership stakes in U.S. companies, as the administration pursues such deals.
Nearly half of American voters believe it is inappropriate for the U.S. government to take ownership stakes in domestic companies, according to a new CNBC All-America Economic Survey. The poll found 49% of voters hold this view, compared to 19% who believe it is appropriate. A significant portion, 32%, remained undecided.
The findings emerge as the Trump administration has been actively negotiating equity stakes in various U.S. companies. The Council on Foreign Relations has documented approximately 30 such deals worth nearly $27 billion. Discussions have also reportedly taken place with artificial intelligence startup OpenAI regarding a potential government stake upon its public offering.
One prominent example is the government's 10% ownership in chipmaker Intel, acquired as part of a subsidy package. Initially valued at $8.9 billion, the stake was worth $42 billion as of Thursday's market close, marking a 372% increase. This move aimed to allow taxpayers to share in potential future upside.
However, the trend has drawn caution from some lawmakers. Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) has urged careful consideration, acknowledging the administration's focus on taxpayer benefits. Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio) also expressed concerns, emphasizing that government equity should be temporary and justified by national security or taxpayer interests.