“The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
This demand follows Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton’s recent concerns, who pressed Intel’s board chair over the CEO’s purported ties to China, questioning the company’s integrity and its implications for US national security.
Trump’s comments occur as Tan, who became Intel CEO in March, attempts to rejuvenate the struggling chipmaker after it missed substantial opportunities in the mobile and AI sectors.
Nvidia, a competitor whose chips are vital for AI infrastructure, became the first company valued at $4 trillion (AUD 6.1 trillion) last month. Intel announced in July that it had reduced its workforce by 15 per cent with the aim of establishing “a faster-moving, flatter and more agile organisation.”
Prior to assuming his role at Intel, Tan led Cadence Design Systems as CEO and co-founded Walden Catalyst Ventures.
Trump’s latest Truth Social message follows his previous criticism of Intel. On Wednesday, during an announcement with Apple CEO Tim Cook about the iPhone maker’s $100 billion ($153 billion) additional investment in its US operations, Trump took another jab at Intel.
“Intel was just taken over the over the coals,” he said. “They were taken to the cleaners, frankly.”
