President Donald Trump has called for Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger to resign, alleging a conflict of interest due to the chipmaker’s operations in China. In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign immediately. There is no other solution!”
Trump’s demand marks a return to his controversial practice of using social media to pressure corporations—a tactic he employed during his presidency to influence companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. His public criticisms have previously triggered stock market fluctuations, raising concerns about the blurring of political and corporate governance.
The statement also reflects Trump’s broader push to decouple U.S. tech firms from China amid escalating semiconductor competition. Intel, a key player in domestic chip manufacturing, has faced scrutiny over its overseas investments. While Trump’s post inaccurately referenced former Cadence Design Systems CEO Lip-Bu Tan instead of Gelsinger, the underlying message underscores his hardline stance on reducing American reliance on Chinese-linked supply chains. If Gelsinger were to step down under such pressure, it would set a precedent for political intervention in corporate leadership, further expanding the boundaries of presidential influence on private-sector decisions.
