Intel’s top leader is defending himself after the president and an Ohio senator called for him to resign Aug. 7.
In a letter to Intel workers, CEO Lip-Bu Tan pushed back on accusations of his ties to the Chinese communist party and said that misinformation has been circulating about him. Tan wrote that he loves the U.S., which he has called home for 40 years.
Concerns about Tan’s connections to China first surfaced after Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, wrote a letter to Intel’s chairperson about Tan’s work at previous companies.
“There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about my past roles at Walden International and Cadence Design Systems,” Tan wrote. “I want to be absolutely clear: 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.”
Tan’s letter comes a day after President Donald Trump called for his resignation. On his social media network Truth Social, Trump posted that the CEO is “highly conflicted” and that there is “no other solution to this problem” aside from Tan stepping down.
Like Trump, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno also called for Tan to resign due to his connections to China. Moreno later said Intel should be investigated to ensure the company hasn’t misused government funding for its delayed Ohio chip factories.
Tan told employees in his letter that the company’s board is fully supportive of the work Intel is doing to position itself for the future.
But, the Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 8 that Tan and the board had been at odds early in his tenure over whether to stay or exit the chip manufacturing business altogether. Intel chairperson Frank Yeary had even gone so far as to put togehter a plan for Intel to leave the foundry business earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Ohio is set to become home to Intel’s Ohio One campus. But the opening date of the company’s first Ohio chip plants has been delayed from 2025 to 2030 or 2031 and construction has been slowed, Tan said during a quarterly earnings call in July.
In his letter to employees, Tan wrote that he is working with the Trump administration to address concerns that were raised and to make sure the White House has all the facts.
Tan, who was named Intel CEO in March, wrote that leading the chipmaker is a privilege and referred to it as “the honor of my career.” Tan also wrote that he share’s Trump’s vision for Intel and looks forward to carrying it out.
“I fully share the president’s commitment to advancing U.S. national and economic security,” Tan wrote. “I appreciate his leadership to advance these priorities, and I’m proud to lead a company that is so central to these goals. “
Dispatch investigative reporter Max Filby can be reached by email at mfilby@dispatch.com. Find him on X at the handle @MaxFilby or on Facebook at @ReporterMaxFilby.
(This story was updated to add a photo gallery.)
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Intel CEO defends himself after Trump, Moreno call for his resignation over China ties
Reporting by Max Filby, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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