Intel CEO responds to Trump resignation demand

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan defends his integrity and pledges steady leadership amid political pressure after Trump's demand for resignation.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Breaks Silence After Trump Resignation Call

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan addressed employees after President Donald Trump urged his resignation over national security concerns. In a post on Intel's official blog, Tan said he has the full support of the board and that leading Intel at this moment is a privilege.

Trump's Truth Social post followed Senator Tom Cotton's questions about Tan's past investments in Chinese companies and his former leadership at Cadence Design Systems, which recently faced a guilty plea related to unlawfully selling tech to a blacklisted Chinese military university. Tan asserted he has always acted within the highest legal and ethical standards. He also framed Intel as vital to US economic and national security and noted progress toward high-volume manufacturing of advanced semiconductors on American soil later this year, adding that the company is working with the administration to ensure the facts are understood.

Political heat now surrounds corporate leadership, and Tan's defense underlines a broader dynamic where perception matters as much as strategy. The board's backing gives Intel room to navigate a volatile moment without appearing rattled. Yet the episode underscores how national security concerns can bleed into boardroom decisions and investor sentiment.

For Intel, the bigger question is whether the company can accelerate a domestic, US-based supply chain while managing public scrutiny and policy risk. A mismatch between rapid manufacturing progress and political expectations could shape future partnerships, funding, and oversight. The risk is not only reputational but practical: greater political scrutiny can alter cost, timing, and competitiveness in a fast-changing chip market.

Highlights

A moment like this tests not just a CEO but the resilience of a company’s long term vision.