President Trump continues to put national security first by pushing for the resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan due to ties with China.
Breitbart reported that on Thursday, President Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to demand that Tan resign from the position of CEO. President Trump wrote, “The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem.”
The call for his resignation from the chipmaker company came after Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas penned a letter to Intel’s board inquiring about Tan’s ties to Chinese firms and a recent criminal case surrounding his former company, Cadence Design. His letter was shared in a press release where Cotton had written, “write to express concern about the security and integrity of Intel’s operations and its potential impact on U.S. national security.”
In March this year, Tan took over the position of CEO and was tasked with cutting costs, but his past ties as a venture capitalist with investments in Chinese tech companies have lawmakers worried. According to CNBC, Tan invested around $200 million in hundreds of Chinese advanced manufacturing and chip firms between 2012 and 2024.
The added criminal case with his former software company, Cadence Design, adds to the concern. Breitbart reported that the company had U.S. export restrictions by selling to China’s National University of Defense Technology, which resulted in the company paying $140 million for this violation.
With this in mind, Cotton is concerned about Tan adhering to strict security regulations, especially since Intel is set to receive billions in federal funding for domestic chip production in Ohio.
In his letter, Cotton had written, “Intel is required to be a responsible steward of American taxpayer dollars and to comply with applicable security regulations.”
According to CNBC, Intel did respond to Cotton’s public letter in a statement that read, “Intel and Mr. Tan are deeply committed to the national security of the United States and the integrity of our role in the U.S. defense ecosystem.”
While the software company also added that it would address Cotton’s concerns directly with him, President Trump has backed Cotton and pushed for Tan’s resignation.