Trump Reveals U.S. Stake in Intel, Eyes Future Deals

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the federal government has secured a 10 percent stake in Intel, the prominent American chipmaker, in exchange for federal subsidies. During a recent press briefing, Trump indicated that his administration is open to pursuing additional deals of this nature, highlighting discussions with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

Trump’s comments came amidst ongoing concerns regarding Washington’s interest in acquiring stakes in foreign companies, including Samsung Electronics, a recipient of U.S. grants under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. “He walked in, wanting to keep his job, and he ended up giving us $10 billion for the United States,” Trump stated, referring to the valuation of the Intel stake.

Future Deal Implications

Earlier this month, Trump had called for the resignation of Tan over alleged ties to China but seemed to shift focus during his recent remarks. “We do a lot of deals like that. I’ll do more of them,” he asserted, suggesting a proactive approach to securing investments that bolster U.S. interests.

In a social media post later, Trump emphasized the deal, claiming the U.S. now “fully owns and controls” the 10 percent stake in Intel, with current valuations estimated at approximately $11 billion. “I negotiated this deal with Lip-Bu Tan, the highly respected Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The United States paid nothing for these shares,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump characterized this arrangement as beneficial not just for the U.S. but also for Intel, stating, “Building leading edge semiconductors and chips, which is what Intel does, is fundamental to the future of our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Context of U.S. Investments in Semiconductor Industry

On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is considering acquiring stakes in companies benefiting from the CHIPS Act. However, it clarified that there are currently no plans to target larger chipmakers that are increasing their investments in the U.S.

This announcement follows a significant initiative by the previous administration under Joe Biden, which last year awarded Samsung up to $4.75 billion in direct funding to support its chip manufacturing investments in central Texas. The strategic moves reflect a growing emphasis on enhancing domestic semiconductor production amid global supply chain challenges.

As the U.S. government explores further investments in the semiconductor sector, the implications for both domestic and foreign companies remain a topic of keen interest among industry analysts and policymakers.