It seems Trump no longer believes Tan should step down. On Truth Social, Trump shared that he met with Tan, Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of Commerce, and Scott Bessent, the Secretary of the Treasury. He did not provide specifics about the discussion but called the meeting “very interesting.” Trump added praise for Tan, noting his remarkable achievements. Previously, Trump had claimed that Tan was “highly conflicted” because of his investments in hundreds of Chinese companies, some of which Reuters reported were connected to the Chinese military, and suggested he should resign. Trump mentioned that Tan and his Cabinet members would meet over the next week to bring recommendations to him.
The Financial Times reported that Tan addressed the controversy in a letter to Intel employees, clarifying that there had been misinformation regarding his previous roles. He emphasized that he had always acted within the “highest legal and ethical standards” and that Intel was coordinating with the White House “to address the matters raised and ensure they have the facts.”
Trump’s earlier call for Tan’s resignation reportedly stemmed from a letter from Senator Tom Cotton, Republican head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which raised concerns about Intel’s operational “security and integrity” because of Tan’s connections to China. Tan became Intel CEO in March, taking over a company struggling financially due to its foundry division’s difficulty attracting major clients and falling behind competitors such as Taiwan Semiconductor. Since assuming the role, Tan has implemented cost-cutting measures, including plans to reduce Intel’s workforce by 22% by year-end. He also recently informed investors that Intel might halt development of its next-generation manufacturing technology if it cannot secure a significant customer.
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