Following the departure of Pat Gelsinger in December 2024, Intel appointed a new CEO in Lip-Bu Tan. Tan took on the mantle in March 2025, but barely half a year into his new position, Trump called for his firing. In response to Trump asking Intel to fire its CEO, Tan has published a letter to speak out against it.
Intel CEO issues letter in response to Trump
According to Tan’s letter, “Let me start by saying this: The United States has been my home for more than 40 years. I love this country and am profoundly grateful for the opportunities it has given me. I also love this company. Leading Intel at this critical moment is not just a job – it’s a privilege.”
He also adds, “Intel’s success is essential to U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership, national security, and economic strength. 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.”
Intel has been in a slump for the past few years due to several missteps. For starters, the company was slow to hop on board the mobile bandwagon. The company dominated the PC space for decades, but its hesitation on mobile allowed Qualcomm to fill the gap. The company also ran into some issues with some of its CPUs, worsening its reputation among the PC community.
Tan’s controversy
So, is Trump simply unhappy with the way Tan is handling Intel? That doesn’t appear to be the case. The reason Trump has called for Tan’s firing is because of several controversies. The Intel CEO was subject to a Reuters investigation earlier this year, which found that he had invested in hundreds of Chinese tech firms. Some of which appear to have ties with the People’s Liberation Army.
This caught the attention of two Republican Senators, who questioned Tan’s suitability as Intel’s CEO. This ultimately led to Trump calling for him to be fired. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said, “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!”
In his letter, the Intel CEO responded to Trump by saying, “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.”
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