Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan over alleged links to Chinese companies and the Chinese military. Trump made the demand Thursday on his Truth Social platform, asserting that Tan is “highly CONFLICTED” and poses a threat to national security.
The statement followed concerns raised by Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who wrote to Intel questioning Tan’s ties to Chinese firms. According to Cotton, Tan controls or holds stakes in numerous Chinese advanced-manufacturing and semiconductor companies, at least eight of which reportedly have connections to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Cotton’s letter also highlighted Tan’s previous leadership of Cadence Design Systems, which pleaded guilty to illegally selling products to a Chinese military university and transferring technology to a related Chinese chip company without required licenses. Tan was at the helm during that period.
Lip-Bu Tan, a Malaysia-born tech veteran, took over as Intel CEO in March. His tenure has so far included workforce reductions amid global market pressures and U.S. export restrictions. He has acknowledged the significant challenges facing Intel as it tries to regain competitiveness in a market now led by TSMC, Samsung, and Nvidia.
Intel, long a symbol of Silicon Valley innovation, has seen its dominance eroded by the rise of AI-focused competitors. While the company has traditionally excelled in chips for general computing, the rapid shift to artificial intelligence has reshaped the landscape, putting Intel under mounting pressure to adapt.
