Bernie Sanders proposes bill giving federal government stakes in leading AI companies, following Trump's model but facing bipartisan resistance

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is proposing a bill that would give the federal government a stake in leading AI companies, intended to help the American public benefit from the technology while allowing the government to influence its development.

The proposal mirrors President Donald Trump's move to take government stakes in companies in strategic sectors, such as Intel and MP Materials.

The idea is meeting resistance from lawmakers in both parties; Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., stated opposition to government involvement in the private sector, and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., described the proposal as sounding "communist."