Nearly half of US registered voters disapprove of the federal government owning shares in American companies, according to a recent CNBC survey. The poll, conducted from July 8 to 12 with a 3.1-point margin of error, found 49% opposed government stakes, 19% supported them, and 32% remained undecided.
Partisan Divides and Recent Investments
The survey revealed a sharp partisan split: 66% of Democrats opposed government stakes, compared to 34% of Republicans. Among MAGA Republicans, opinion was evenly divided with 31% in favor and 31% against, while 38% had no opinion. Opposition has declined since October 2025, when 56% found such ownership inappropriate and only 13% approved, showing a seven-point drop in disapproval alongside a rise in approval rates.
The government has completed 30 deals totaling $26.7 billion since 2025, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. These include a 10% ownership in Intel, valued at $42 billion after a $8.9 billion grant originally approved by the Biden administration. This stake has appreciated 372% since acquisition in August 2025, marking the largest such investment.
Reports also indicate OpenAI has proposed a 5% government stake, which would be valued at approximately $42.6 billion based on its $852 billion valuation. The Trump administration has characterized these shareholdings sometimes as opportunistic bets and other times as components of a wider economic strategy.
