U.S. President Donald Trump met with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan on Monday, just days after publicly demanding his resignation over alleged conflicts of interest tied to investments in Chinese firms. Following the meeting, Trump praised Tan, calling the discussion “very interesting.” Intel’s stock rose 3% in extended trading.
Last week, Trump had accused Tan of being “highly conflicted” due to his extensive ties to Chinese companies, some of which were reportedly linked to China’s military. Though such investments are not illegal unless involving entities on the U.S. Treasury’s restricted list, the revelations created uncertainty around Intel’s ongoing turnaround effort.
During the White House meeting, Trump was joined by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Trump said the officials, along with Tan, would provide him with further recommendations next week. Despite earlier criticism, Trump acknowledged Tan’s career as “an amazing story.”
Tan, who has been Intel’s CEO for roughly six months, is leading efforts to reposition the company amid heavy losses and fierce competition from Nvidia in the AI chip market. His strategy has included major asset sales, layoffs, and resource reallocation. However, Trump’s intervention—demanding his resignation—has raised concerns among investors and industry insiders that political pressure could derail Intel’s recovery.
Intel released a statement emphasizing Tan’s constructive dialogue with Trump and reaffirming its commitment to U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership. The company pledged to work closely with the administration to “restore this great American company.”
Trump’s direct involvement highlights his unusual influence over corporate governance, following a recent deal requiring Nvidia and AMD to share 15% of their China sales revenue with the U.S. government.