Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to Meet Trump Amid Chip Industry Tensions
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The Meeting
A High-Stakes Discussion
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is scheduled to meet former President Donald Trump on August 12, 2025, at Trump Tower in New York. The sit-down, confirmed by Intel’s corporate communications team in an email to SiliconANGLE, comes as the semiconductor giant navigates shifting political winds and supply chain pressures.
Tan’s agenda includes discussions on 'strategic business priorities,' according to the company’s statement. Trump, who has repeatedly criticized U.S. reliance on foreign chip manufacturing, has not publicly detailed his objectives for the meeting.
Why It Matters
Chips, Politics, and Power
The meeting arrives as Intel seeks to secure federal subsidies under the CHIPS Act, a $52 billion package designed to bolster domestic semiconductor production. Trump, while in office, championed reshoring tech manufacturing but clashed with industry leaders over tariffs and trade policies.
Intel’s latest quarterly filing shows a 12% drop in revenue year-over-year, attributed partly to supply chain disruptions. The company is racing to complete its $20 billion Ohio fab project, which hinges on federal funding approvals.
The Backdrop
A History of Tension
Trump’s relationship with the tech sector has been volatile. In 2020, his administration imposed export restrictions on Huawei, a move that roiled global chip markets. Intel, meanwhile, has faced scrutiny over its reliance on Asian foundries—a vulnerability Tan has vowed to address.
A 2024 White House report obtained by The Information warned that the U.S. share of global chip production could fall to 10% by 2030 without aggressive investment. Intel’s Ohio expansion aims to counter that trend.
The Stakes
Jobs, Votes, and Global Competition
Ohio’s GOP leadership has framed Intel’s project as a litmus test for Biden-era industrial policy. Governor Mike DeWine (R) told The Columbus Dispatch in July that the fab could create 'over 3,000 permanent jobs'—a figure Intel has not disputed.
Trump’s influence over the GOP base could sway congressional support for chip subsidies. His endorsement—or opposition—may prove pivotal as Intel lobbies for faster permitting and tax incentives.
What’s Next
Three Scenarios
1. **Deal**: Trump backs Intel’s subsidies in exchange for job guarantees or factory announcements in swing states. 2. **Deadlock**: Talks collapse over trade policy disagreements, leaving Intel to rely on Democratic allies. 3. **Distraction**: The meeting yields headlines but no concrete policy shifts, mirroring past tech-celebrity summits.
The Department of Commerce is set to award the first CHIPS Act grants in Q4 2025. Intel’s application, filed in March, remains under review.
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