Trump slams Intel chief as "highly conflicted," demands resignation

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Intel’s Chief Executive Officer, Li-Bu Tan.

Trump made the demand in a post on his Truth Social page, Caliber.Az reports. 

“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’s comments came a day after Reuters reported that Republican Senator Tom Cotton had written to Intel’s board chair, raising concerns about CEO Le-Bu Tan’s ties to Chinese firms and a past criminal case involving his former company, Cadence Design Systems.

Tan, who became CEO in March, has invested over $200 million—personally or through venture funds—in hundreds of Chinese tech and chip firms between 2012 and 2024. While a source claimed he has since divested, Chinese databases reportedly still list many investments as active.

Intel responded by saying both the company and Tan are “deeply committed to the national security of the U.S.” and will reply directly to Cotton’s letter.

The controversy comes as Intel faces stiff competition from TSMC and Nvidia. Tan has announced a 22% workforce cut—bringing headcount to 75,000—and a shift toward more disciplined manufacturing investments.

By Aghakazim Guliyev