Trump’s Equity Moves Spark Debate as Intel Shares Surge

Intel's stock soared 24% in a single day, marking its largest surge in nearly four decades after a controversial equity deal with the TRUMP administration. The transaction, quietly executed in August, involved the purchase of 433.3 million shares at $20.47 each, with 274.6 million immediately transferred to the Department of Commerce.

The remaining 158.7 million shares remain in escrow, tied to payments under the Chips Act. At $30.79 per share, the rally has amplified scrutiny over presidential involvement in corporate finance—a debate now extending to potential defense sector deals.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's CNBC remarks about Pentagon equity purchases in defense contractors suggest this may be the opening move in a broader strategy. Market observers note the absence of direct cryptocurrency implications, though such government-capital collisions often ripple across asset classes.