US President Donald Trump has called for the immediate resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, alleging serious conflicts of interest tied to Tan’s past business engagements in China. On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “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.”
Trump’s statement follows mounting political scrutiny surrounding Tan’s past investments and leadership history and comes shortly after Republican Senator Tom Cotton sent a letter to Intel’s board raising national security concerns.
Who is Lip-Bu Tan?
Lip-Bu Tan, a Malaysian-born American technology executive, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist, assumed the role of chief executive officer of Intel Corporation in March 2025. He is also the founder and chairman of Walden International, a global venture capital firm known for its focus on semiconductor and high-tech investments.
Born in 1959 in Muar, Johor, Malaysia, and raised in Singapore. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Nanyang University in Singapore, followed by a Master of Science in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and an MBA from the University of San Francisco.
Before joining Intel, Tan spent over a decade as the CEO of Cadence Design Systems, from 2009 to 2021. He has served on the boards of several major technology firms, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Schneider Electric, and is widely recognized for his contributions to the semiconductor sector. His accolades include Robert N. Noyce Award from the Semiconductor Industry Association and a spot on Forbes’ list of the Top 50 Venture Capitalists.
As of 2025, Lip-Bu Tan’s estimated net worth is believed to lie between $550 million and $759 million. A substantial portion of his wealth is from Cadence Design Systems approximately 1.4 million in shares, valued at over $400 to $500 million. His venture capital investments through Walden International are estimated to be worth between $250 million and $400 million.
What are the accusations against Intel CEO?
In the letter addressed to Intel Chairperson Frank Yeary, Senator Cotton questioned whether the company’s board was aware of federal subpoenas issued to Cadence Design Systems while Tan was serving as CEO. Tan led Cadence from 2008 until 2021 and remained executive chairman until May 2023. The senator also sought clarity on whether Intel had taken adequate steps to assess and mitigate any potential security risks related to Tan’s prior leadership and investment activities.
Cotton also included a recent Reuters investigation which reported that Tan, either personally or through venture capital funds he manages, had invested at least $200 million in hundreds of Chinese companies between March 2012 and December 2024. Several of those companies, according to the report, are believed to have links to China’s military and advanced manufacturing sectors.
A source told Reuters that Tan has since divested from those Chinese holdings, the lack of transparency around those transactions and the scale of his past exposure to Chinese tech firms have alarmed lawmakers. Cotton warned that such ties could compromise Intel’s compliance with US security regulations and its role as a recipient of taxpayer-backed funding.