US President Donald Trump on Thursday referred to as for the speedy resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, alleging a critical battle of curiosity over his reported ties to Chinese language companies.
In a put up on his Fact Social platform, Trump wrote: “The CEO of INTEL is very CONFLICTED and should resign, instantly. There isn’t any different resolution to this downside.”
Trump’s feedback got here a day after Republican Senator Tom Cotton reportedly wrote a letter to Intel’s board chair Frank Yeary, questioning Tan’s enterprise ties in China and citing nationwide safety dangers.
Cotton’s letter adopted studies that Tan, throughout his time as CEO of Cadence Design Techniques, had hyperlinks to Chinese language companies now underneath scrutiny in a legal case.
Lip-Bu Tan’s appointment as Intel CEO
Lip-Bu Tan, a former Intel board member and well-known chip business veteran, was named Intel’s CEO in March. His appointment got here because the chip large continues to battle investor scepticism after ousting earlier CEO Pat Gelsinger.
Gelsinger’s bold plan to revitalise Intel with expensive investments in chip design and manufacturing had been faltering, prompting the board to search for new management.
Tan’s appointment had earlier been seen as a strategic transfer attributable to his huge expertise and deep connections within the tech and chipmaking ecosystem. Reviews mentioned Intel’s board approached him in December final yr to discover curiosity within the prime job.
Nonetheless, Senator Cotton’s letter now casts a shadow over that appointment, referencing subpoenas despatched to Cadence Design throughout Tan’s tenure and asking whether or not Intel’s board had factored that into their hiring resolution.
Federal funding scrutiny and Chinese language ties
Senator Cotton additionally highlighted Intel’s receipt of federal funding, arguing that the corporate should be a “accountable steward of American taxpayer {dollars}” and cling to all related nationwide safety legal guidelines.
He questioned whether or not Tan disclosed all obligatory particulars about his investments, skilled roles, or affiliations with Chinese language companies earlier than being appointed. As of now, Intel has not issued any official touch upon both President Trump’s remarks or Senator Cotton’s letter.
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