Trump says Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan must ‘resign immediately’
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, alleging that Tan harbors conflicts of interest. The demand was made via Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, amid escalating geopolitical tensions with China.
“The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!” Trump posted on Thursday, without providing specific evidence or details to substantiate his claims of conflict of interest.
Trump’s public statement follows a letter sent by Republican Senator Tom Cotton to Intel’s board of directors on Wednesday. Senator Cotton reportedly inquired about Tan’s alleged ties to China and his investments within the country. The concerns also extend to Tan’s prior leadership role at Cadence Design Systems, which, according to reports, had a Chinese military university as a client.
Lip-Bu Tan took the helm at Intel in March, tasked with revitalizing the semiconductor giant. His tenure has been marked by efforts to improve efficiency, a critical mission as Intel seeks to regain competitiveness against rivals like Nvidia and AMD in the rapidly advancing AI chip market. To streamline operations, Tan has overseen significant restructuring, including layoffs affecting thousands of staff, pausing plans for new manufacturing plants, and divesting non-core business units.
Intel, a key player in the U.S. semiconductor industry, received substantial backing from the Biden administration’s CHIPS Act. The company was allocated nearly $8 billion to support the establishment and expansion of manufacturing and packaging facilities across key states, including Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oregon.
Intel has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding President Trump’s statement or the concerns raised by Senator Cotton.
