Donald Trump has called for the newly appointed chief executive of Intel, Lip-Bu Tan, to resign, alleging that the semiconductor industry veteran is highly conflicted.
The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately, Trump said in his post on his Truth Social website on Thursday. There is no other solution to this problem.
The US presidents post did not provide details of Tans alleged conflicts of interest. Trumps broadside follows a letter from Republican Senator Tom Cotton to the US chipmakers board chair this week expressing concern about the security and integrity of Intels operations and Tans ties to China.
Tan has been a prolific investor in Chinese tech companies, through his San Francisco-based venture capital firm as well as companies based in Hong Kong. His past investments have included Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, Chinas largest chip manufacturer.
Before being appointed Intel CEO earlier this year, Tan ran California-based Cadence Design Systems, which last week admitted to violating US export controls by selling its chip design tools to a Chinese university with close ties to the military.
