Only 19% support federal equity holdings, while 32% remain undecided, reports CNBC.
The All-America Economic Survey comes as the Trump administration has negotiated around 30 major corporate transactions totaling roughly $27 billion. Several examples include a 10% equity share in Intel (exchanged from existing federal subsidies), a "golden share" veto right in U.S. Steel and ongoing discussions regarding a potential stake in OpenAI when it goes public.
Those opposed to this idea view the practice as inappropriate. Critics also argue that government intervention risks undermining corporate competitiveness over the long haul.
Supporters say these actions are a way to safeguard critical national security assets such as domestic microchip production and rare earth metals while ensuring taxpayers benefit financially from commercial upside.
Richard Stern, vice president of Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom, told AFN the problem is not only where the government puts their money.
"It's not just that the government is putting money on this side or that, it's that the government is making a statement to the rest of the country that this is the company we believe in," says Stern. "It creates a corrupt cycle where people in the government directly benefit from how that business fares."
Breaking down the survey by political party, 66% of Democrats currently view government ownership in private business as inappropriate. Republicans are less opposed, with 34% against. However, self-identified "MAGA" Republicans are divided.
Stern adds that it doesn’t matter which party controls the White House. Government shouldn’t have ownership stakes in American companies, he says, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should know better.
"He's actually weaponized the Commerce Department as a tool to pass a certain agenda that helps certain people, that is not looking out for the interest of the American public and that is using your taxpayer dollars and using the power of the Commerce Department to do the executed wrongs," Stern says.
