Trump Demands Intel CEO Resign Over Alleged Ties to Chinese Firms

In a bold and unprecedented move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Intel's CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, citing concerns over his alleged connections to Chinese companies. This demand followed a warning from Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who raised national security issues related to Tan's business ties in China.

On Truth Social, Trump stated, The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem. The statement came a day after Senator Cotton sent a letter to Intel expressing his concerns over Tan’s potential links to Chinese firms, including those with ties to the Chinese military.

Intel, a Silicon Valley icon, has faced increasing competition from Asian giants like TSMC and Samsung, which dominate the custom semiconductor market. Cotton's letter alleged that Tan controls dozens of Chinese companies and holds stakes in hundreds of Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip firms, with at least eight reportedly linked to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

Additionally, Cotton highlighted Tan’s previous role at Cadence Design Systems, where the company recently pleaded guilty to illegally selling its products to a Chinese military university. The senator claimed that Tan facilitated the transfer of technology to a Chinese semiconductor firm without proper licenses.

Tan responded by stating that there has been a lot of misinformation circulating about his past roles. He emphasized that he has always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards and that he is profoundly grateful for the opportunities the U.S. has provided over his 40-year career there.

Tan also reiterated his commitment to advancing US national and economic security and expressed pride in leading a company so central to these goals. The Malaysian-born executive took over at Intel in March, a time marked by layoffs and a challenging market environment due to White House tariffs and export restrictions.

Intel’s struggles have been further compounded by the rise of Nvidia as a dominant force in AI chip manufacturing, leaving Intel’s traditional computing-focused niche increasingly overshadowed by the AI revolution.

As the situation unfolds, the tech industry and policymakers alike are closely watching how this dispute will impact Intel and the broader U.S. technology landscape. The pressure on Tan, and by extension, Intel, is mounting as the U.S. government continues to scrutinize foreign ties in the semiconductor sector.