Trump Reverses Course, Praises Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Days After Calling for His Resignation
Just days after demanding the resignation of Intel’s chief executive, President Donald Trump has now lauded Lip-Bu Tan as a “success,” marking a dramatic shift in tone.
On Monday, Trump revealed that he and his cabinet met with Tan, alongside Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “The meeting was a very interesting one,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “His journey and achievements are truly remarkable. My cabinet and Mr. Tan will work together over the coming week to bring forward suggestions for me to review.”
Intel confirmed the meeting, describing it as a candid discussion focused on bolstering U.S. leadership in technology and manufacturing. Tan, who became Intel’s CEO in March after serving on its board since 2022, has been under scrutiny from some U.S. lawmakers over past business ties to China.
Last week, Senator Tom Cotton raised questions about Tan’s links to Chinese entities during his time as CEO of Cadence Design. Trump had echoed those concerns at the time, calling Tan “highly conflicted” and insisting he should resign immediately. Intel later stated that both the company and Tan remain committed to advancing U.S. national and economic security interests.
The about-face comes as the Trump administration intensifies its involvement in the semiconductor industry amid a tech rivalry with China. Over the weekend, Nvidia agreed to give the federal government a 15% cut in exchange for licenses allowing sales of its H20 chip to China. Trump said he initially pushed for 20%, but Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang negotiated it down.
Tan, 65, inherited a struggling Intel that had been losing ground in artificial intelligence while pouring resources into chip manufacturing. His early tenure has involved layoffs, scaled-back foundry plans, and canceled expansion projects in Germany and Poland. Despite these challenges, Intel’s stock has risen 3% this year, compared to the S&P 500’s 8.4% gain.
Born in Malaysia and raised in Singapore, Tan later moved to the United States, earning a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He recently told analysts that rebuilding Intel will require both time and patience.
