Bernie Sanders pushes for 50% public ownership of American AI companies — proposes AI sovereign wealth fund that would hold direct ownership stakes in largest AI firms

Bernie Sanders on a podium with a Fight Oligarchy sign.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has announced that he will introduce a bill that would force the largest American AI firms to hand over half of their stock to the public. The senator proposes a 50% tax on the stock of these firms, which, it seems, will be held by the public through a sovereign wealth fund. It would also mean that the government would have a direct ownership stake in these companies, allowing the people to have a say in how these companies would run.

I will soon be introducing a bill to give the public a 50% ownership stake in the largest AI companies in America.This would guarantee that the trillions created by AI are used to improve the lives of all of us — and block oligarch decisions that harm the American people. pic.twitter.com/y3ERWOsRfsJune 2, 2026