WASHINGTON – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly called for the immediate resignation of Intel Corporation’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, citing the executive’s alleged financial ties to Chinese chip and manufacturing companies, some of which are reportedly linked to the Chinese military.
In a statement released Thursday, Trump referred to Tan as “highly conflicted”, questioning how someone with deep investment links to Chinese firms could lead a company critical to America’s technological future.
“Intel is a pillar of American innovation and national security. It cannot be run by someone who is financially entangled with our biggest strategic rival,” Trump said.
According to an exclusive Reuters investigation published in April, Tan — either directly or through venture funds he founded or operates — has invested at least $200 million into hundreds of Chinese tech and chip-making firms, including companies reportedly connected to China’s defense sector.
Intel has yet to issue an official response to Trump’s remarks. However, industry insiders say Tan’s appointment was meant to signal a shift toward aggressive innovation and global expansion amid growing competition from rivals like TSMC and Samsung.
Tan, a prominent figure in the global semiconductor industry, is the founder of venture capital firm Walden International and has served in leadership roles across multiple tech investment entities. While his experience is seen as valuable in navigating Intel’s comeback in the AI and chip wars, the national security implications of his foreign investments are now under scrutiny.
This development adds to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China over technological dominance, especially in the semiconductor and AI sectors. U.S. lawmakers have recently pushed for stronger regulations to limit American capital and leadership influence in Chinese companies involved in sensitive technologies.
Whether Intel’s board will respond to the political pressure remains to be seen.
