Donald Trump’s edicts by social media continued last night, calling for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to resign overnight, accusing him of close China ties.
In a public note to all Intel employees, Lip-Bu Tan reminded them he has lived in the US for over 40 years and that he loved his country, after Donald Trump wrote a Truth Social post calling for him to resign over his ties to Chinese companies.
The Truth Social post comes just days after close Trump ally – not known for his moderate views – Tom Cotton wrote a letter to Intel’s board, complaining that Tan “controls dozens of Chinese companies and has a stake in hundreds of Chinese advanced-manufacturing and chip firms”, some of who said had “ties to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.”
“Intel’s success is essential to US technology and manufacturing leadership, national security, and economic strength,” said Tan in his public letter addressing all Intel employees. “This is what fuels our business around the world. It’s what motivated me to join this team, and it’s what drives me every day to advance the important work we’re doing together to build a stronger future.”
He directly addressed the “misinformation” doing the rounds as regards previous roles with Walden International and Cadence Design Systems.
“I want to be absolutely clear: Over 40+ years in the industry, I’ve built relationships around the world and across our diverse ecosystem – and I have always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards. My reputation has been built on trust – on doing what I say I’ll do, and doing it the right way. This is the same way I am leading Intel.”
Tan went on to say Intel was “engaging with the Administration to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts”, and in what has become the norm among tech CEOs under the current US administration, he slipped in some “praise” for Trump.
“I fully share the President’s commitment to advancing US national and economic security, I appreciate his leadership to advance these priorities, and I’m proud to lead a company that is so central to these goals,” he said.
To add to Tan’s woes, elsewhere the Wall Street Journal was reporting that Lip-Bu Tan and Intel’s board have been at odds in recent times over his strategy for the troubled chip-maker.
“The Board is fully supportive of the work we are doing to transform our company, innovate for our customers, and execute with discipline – and we are making progress,” he said, in a clear reference to that story.
This all comes at a time when Intel has been trying desperately to restructure and recoup some of the ground it has lost to chips giants like Nvidia who have streaked ahead of the former chips leader in recent years. It recently halted plans for further fab builds in Europe, and announced thousands of layoffs.
Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.