Trump demands Intel CEO resign over China ties amid chip struggles
Former President Donald Trump has publicly called for Lip-Bu Tan to immediately resign as CEO of Intel, citing the executive’s reported ties to Chinese technology firms. This demand, posted by Trump on Truth Social, follows earlier questioning from Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton regarding whether Tan’s alleged connections to China would conflict with U.S. national security regulations. “The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately,” Trump wrote. “There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!”
Tan was appointed Intel’s CEO just five months ago, in March, with a mandate to revitalize the struggling chipmaker. His predecessor, Pat Gelsinger, was removed by the board three and a half years into what was projected as a four-year turnaround plan. Under Gelsinger’s leadership, Intel significantly lagged behind its competitor TSMC, which capitalized on advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography – a technology Intel itself had invested in developing – to dominate the production of next-generation chips and artificial intelligence components. The company’s recent challenges were underscored last month when Intel announced plans to lay off 24,000 employees this year and cancel proposed projects in Germany and Poland.
The controversy surrounding Tan’s background stems from an April Reuters report, which revealed he had previously invested in more than 600 Chinese tech firms. The report also noted that some of these companies had connections to China’s military, though Tan had reportedly divested an unspecified number of positions with Chinese entities by the time of the reporting.
In response to the escalating scrutiny, Intel issued a statement to Reuters on Wednesday, affirming its commitment and Tan’s to U.S. national security. The company stated that both Intel and Tan “are deeply committed to the national security of the U.S. and the integrity of our role in the U.S. defense ecosystem.” This public reassurance comes as the world’s largest semiconductor companies face increasing pressure amid heightened geopolitical tensions and efforts by the U.S. government to restrict China’s access to advanced chip technology.