Intel CEO Faces Trump Showdown Amid Resignation Firestorm
Silicon Valley collides with Pennsylvania Avenue as Intel's chief scrambles to salvage his job—and the chip giant's political leverage.
Behind closed doors: A CEO fighting for survival while markets yawn. Typical DC theater—just add semiconductors.
Bonus jab: Wall Street's already pricing in the next 'strategic pivot'—code for another taxpayer-funded handout.
Tan counters and plans White House visit
Tan, a Malaysian-born Chinese American, took over as Intel CEO earlier this year after a decades-long career in the semiconductor industry. He previously led Cadence Design Systems for 13 years and later served on Intel’s board before being appointed chief executive.
Sources told The Wall Street Journal that Tan will use the meeting with Trump to defend his record and personal integrity. He plans to share details about his life story, his immigration to the U.S., and his belief in strengthening America’s technology base.
The CEO will also outline Intel’s strategic role in the U.S. economy. That includes reopening domestic chip plants, boosting supply chains, and investing in advanced research hubs across the United States.
Those briefed on the matter say Tan plans to suggest avenues for how Intel and the government can more closely cooperate, ranging from workforce training initiatives to collaborations in cutting-edge AI research.
In a brief public statement last week, Tan said he shared the president’s commitment to U.S. national and economic security, and added that Intel WOULD continue to serve as a trusted partner to the United States government.
Intel strengthens national security commitments
The pressure on Tan intensified after Reuters reported in April that he had invested more than $200 million in hundreds of Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip companies. Some of these firms were later linked to Chinese defense and military projects.
Tan’s earlier leadership of Cadence Design Systems has also come under scrutiny. In 2021, the company was found to have sold software to a Chinese military university believed to be involved in simulating nuclear explosions.
Last month, Cadence agreed to plead guilty and pay over $140 million to resolve U.S. criminal charges over those sales. Tan was not personally charged, but critics say the episode raises questions about his oversight and decision-making.
Security analysts warn that the U.S. cannot afford to overlook potential risks in the semiconductor sector. Chips are essential to consumer electronics and vital for defense systems, satellites, and artificial intelligence applications.
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