Trump Calls On Leading Tech CEO To Resign Over China Ties

President Donald Trump is calling on Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to step down immediately after Senate Republicans raised concerns over his links to Chinese firms and a criminal investigation centered on one of his former companies.

On Wednesday, Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) sent a letter to Intel’s board chair that raised questions about the new CEO’s ties with Chinese companies and a criminal probe focused on his former company, Cadence Design. Writing to “express concern about the security and integrity of Intel’s operations and its potential impact on U.S. national security,” Cotton asked Intel chairperson Frank Yeary whether the company’s board was aware of the subpoenas sent to Cadence during Tan’s time there as CEO before he was hired by Intel.

The senator further asked whether any steps have been taken to address these concerns, Reuters reported.

In addition, Cotton asked whether Intel’s board required Tan to divest from chip firms in China linked to the Chinese military or Communist Party. Concerns were also raised over whether Tan adequately disclosed ties to Chinese companies due to Intel’s involvement in the Secure Enclave program, an initiative designed to develop a secure supply of microelectronics for national defense.

“Intel is required to be a responsible steward of American taxpayer dollars and to comply with applicable security regulations,” Cotton wrote, noting that the firm receives federal funding as part of the program. “Mr. Tan’s associations raise questions about Intel’s ability to fulfill these obligations.”

An intel spokesperson attempted to ensure Cotton that the firm is committed to ensuring U.S. national security. “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,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company will be taking steps to address the issues raised in the letter.

President Donald Trump is not satisfied with Intel’s response, however, as he called on Tan to step down in a Truth Social post Thursday. “The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately,” the president wrote. “There is no other solution to this problem. Thank you for your attention to this problem!”

Lip-Bu Tan was appointed as the new CEO of Intel on March 12, 2025

A month after Tan was tapped to head the chipmaking leader, Reuters reported that he had either directly or through venture funds he operates, invested in hundreds of Chinese companies, some of which had links to the Chinese military. He also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Chinese chipmaking and advanced manufacturing firms between March 2012 and December 2024.

A company source told the outlet in April that the Intel CEO had divested from his positions, though the extent of his divestitures was not verified at the time.

Tan was appointed CEO of Intel in March after a tumultuous period at the company that saw them lose ground to competitors like Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., among others. He formerly served as CEO of Cadence Design Systems from 2009 to 2021, where he was credited with leading an reinvention of the company and driving a “cultural transformation centered on customer-centric innovation,” Fox Business reported.