US President Donald Trump on Thursday took to his social media platform and called for the resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan amid concerns about national security risk. Intel shares plunged on Thursday by up to 3 per cent even as tech-heavy market Nasdaq turned green.
“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 posted on Truth Social.
Why is Trump calling for resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan?
Donald Trump has alleged that Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has ties to China, which he said posed national security threat to the US.
This comes after Arkansas GOP senator Tom Cotton raised concerns about Tan investing in hundreds of Chinese companies in personal capacity as well as through venture funds. These include companies linked to the Chinese military, according to a Reuters report.
“The new CEO of @intel reportedly has deep ties to the Chinese Communists. US companies who receive government grants should be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and adhere to strict security regulations. The board of @Intel owes Congress an explanation,” Senator Cotton posted on X, while sharing a copy of his letter to Intel board chair Frank Yeary.
Who is Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan?
Lip-Bu Tan, a Malaysian-born American tech executive, took over as Intel Corporation CEO in March 2025. He is the founder and chairman of Walden International, a venture capital company with stakes in semiconductor and other high-tech investments.
The new CEO of @intel reportedly has deep ties to the Chinese Communists. U.S. companies who receive government grants should be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and adhere to strict security regulations. The board of @Intel owes Congress an explanation. pic.twitter.com/3rYhHge6Wa
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) August 6, 2025
Born in Malayasia and brought up in Singapore, he completed his bachelors in physics from Nanyang University, Singapore. He pursued his masters in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and an MBA from the University of San Francisco.
Tan reportedly had links to China in the past when he was working at Cadence Design Systems from 2009 to 2021. This is the same company that recently acknowledged that it violated US export laws by selling chip design tools to a Chinese military university.
He was also on the boards of firms like Hewlett Packard and Schneider Electric. He has a net worth of $550-760 million, as of 2025.
