The Trump administration’s investments in corporate stocks make it a significant shareholder in an unprecedented 30 companies. Voters and economists are uneasy
It was about one year ago that the Trump administration announced a truly eye-opening transaction: In return for an $8.9-billion investment in the chipmaker already authorized under the Biden-era CHIPS Act, the government would take a roughly 10% stake in Intel shares — making the government Intel’s largest shareholder.
Was this a good deal?
For the U.S. taxpayer, the answer is yes — from the standpoint of paper profits. The 443.3 million Intel shares the government acquired for $8.9 billion are currently worth nearly $44 billion on the open market.
The Trump administration’s ‘strategic stakes’ policy is a deliberate attempt to shape corporate behavior and obtain leverage under the guise of bolstering domestic…
