2025-08-07T12:42:12Z

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If you thought tech companies were just about innovation and silicon chips, think again! Intel's shares took a nosedive before the stock market even opened on Thursday, and it all stems from a fiery post by none other than former President Donald Trump.

In a dramatic flare-up, Trump declared on Truth Social that, "The CEO of Intel is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately." It’s a shocking statement that sent ripples through the tech community, raising eyebrows and questions, especially when coupled with concerns from U.S. Senator Tom Cotton regarding CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s alleged ties to companies connected to the Chinese Communist Party.

Senator Cotton didn't mince words in a letter directed at Intel Chairman Frank Yeary, voicing his apprehensions about Tan's past leadership roles, particularly with Cadence Design Systems. This is a company that, just a few months back, admitted to selling its products to China’s National University of Defense Technology in a clear breach of U.S. export controls. The implications? Serious questions about national security and corporate governance loom large.

Upon his appointment as Intel's CEO in March 2025, Tan was already under scrutiny. Cotton's letter revealed that Tan reportedly controls dozens of Chinese companies and has stakes in hundreds of firms involved in advanced manufacturing and chip technology. Alarmingly, at least eight of these companies have ties to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army! As a result, Intel's stock took a dive, falling over 4% in premarket trading, as investors grappled with the implications of this leadership controversy.

In a world where technology and geopolitics collide, the stakes couldn’t be higher for corporations like Intel. With the tech industry riding a wave of rapid change and competition, how will this drama unfold? Will Intel be able to recover from this blow, or does this mark the start of a more troubling chapter?