Voter Skepticism on Government Ownership in Companies

A recent CNBC survey highlights that many U.S. voters are wary of the government acquiring stakes in American businesses. According to the poll released on Monday, only 19% of American voters find it acceptable for the federal government to hold shares in private companies, while 49% believe it is inappropriate. The remaining 32% of respondents were undecided.

Looking back at a similar survey from October 2025, it was found that 56% of voters disapproved of government ownership in private companies, just 13% approved, and 31% had no clear stance.

This poll comes after the Trump administration revealed plans for new investments totaling $26.7 billion across thirty deals involving direct ownership since January 2025, as reported by the Council on Foreign Relations.

In a notable development, the White House did not provide comments when approached for a response.

Earlier in August 2025, the administration announced it had secured a “historic” deal to acquire a 10% equity stake in Intel, a prominent California-based chipmaker. Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary, expressed enthusiasm in a statement saying, “Intel is excited to welcome the United States of America as a shareholder, helping to create the most advanced chips in the world.” He added that the administration remains focused on reinforcing the country’s position in artificial intelligence while enhancing national security.

The recent poll by CNBC surveyed 1,000 registered U.S. voters from July 8-12, featuring a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The survey was carried out in collaboration with Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies.