Credited from: ALJAZEERA
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is due to visit the White House on Monday, following President Donald Trump's public demand last week for his resignation over alleged ties to Chinese companies. During the meeting, Tan aims to discuss his professional background and Intel's dedication to national security, particularly concerning its manufacturing capabilities, which Trump labeled as essential for the U.S. economy, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.
Trump initially called for Tan's removal, describing him as "highly conflicted" due to substantial investments in Chinese semiconductor firms, some reportedly linked to the Chinese military. Despite this, Trump later praised Tan's career trajectory during their White House meeting, noting the "amazing story" of his rise, and indicating a willingness to collaborate moving forward, as reported by Reuters and Business Insider.
Insiders noted that Tan's meeting is critical, especially in light of the ongoing scrutiny regarding his previous investments through Cadence Design Systems, which recently faced legal penalties for exporting sensitive technology to a Chinese military university. These issues have sparked significant debate about national security implications for U.S. tech firms, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.
During this high-stakes political climate, former Intel board members have even called for a spinoff of the company’s manufacturing division to secure America's chipmaking dominance, reflecting wider uncertainties within the industry as it navigates mounting pressures from global competitors such as Nvidia and TSMC, as highlighted by India Times and Industry Week.