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Americans wary of Trump's government ownership of companies: CNBC poll
CNBC • • business
Key Points:
- The U.S. government’s 10% ownership stake in Intel, initially valued at $8.9 billion, has surged 372% to $42 billion following grants under Biden-era legislation and equity demands from the Trump administration.
- Some senators express caution about the government taking equity stakes in private companies, with legislation proposed to limit such investments to eight years for national security reasons.
- The Pentagon supports companies like MP Materials to secure access to critical resources such as rare earth minerals, countering China’s dominance in this sector.
- Critics argue that government involvement can reduce company competitiveness over time, citing the U.S. steel industry as an example, despite protective measures like tariffs and golden shares.
- A CNBC poll shows Democrats are more opposed to government equity stakes in companies than Republicans, with overall public opinion becoming more skeptical since an October 2025 survey.
