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US President Donald Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Intel’s newly appointed chief executive, Lip-Bu Tan, following allegations that he has deep connections to Chinese tech companies, some of which are reportedly linked to the Chinese military.
Trump made the demand on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, saying, “The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign immediately. There is no other solution to this problem.”
His post followed a letter from Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who voiced concerns over Tan’s ties to Chinese firms.
Cotton alleged that Tan, a veteran of the semiconductor industry, controls or holds stakes in numerous Chinese tech companies, including at least eight said to have links to China’s People’s Liberation Army.
The senator also raised questions about Tan’s previous leadership at Cadence Design Systems, claiming the firm admitted to illegally selling products to a Chinese military university during his tenure.
Cotton further alleged that Cadence technology was transferred to a Chinese chip company without proper licensing.
Responding to the claims, Tan said Intel was in discussions with the Trump team to clarify the situation and ensure officials understood the facts.
He denied any wrongdoing, describing the allegations as “misinformation” related to his prior roles at Cadence and Walden International.
Tan, who was born in Malaysia and has lived in the US for over four decades, emphasised his commitment to operating under the highest legal and ethical standards.
He said he shares Trump’s concerns about national and economic security and expressed pride in leading Intel, calling it a company central to America’s tech future.
Tan took over as CEO of Intel in March, during a difficult period for the company, which has struggled to compete with Asian giants such as TSMC and Samsung.
He has already announced job cuts to reposition the firm amid shifting market dynamics, including the rise of artificial intelligence chips, where rivals like Nvidia have surged ahead.
Intel, once a dominant force in computing hardware, now faces increasing pressure to adapt as traditional chip demand wanes in favour of AI-driven technologies.
Tan previously admitted that navigating these challenges would not be easy.
