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Semiconductor giant Intel (INTC) is facing a severe leadership crisis as President Trump demands the immediate resignation of CEO Lip-Bu Tan, triggering a 3% decline in the company's stock price on Thursday. The controversy centers around Tan's extensive Chinese business connections, including investments of at least $200 million in hundreds of Chinese firms between 2012-2024, with some allegedly linked to China's military apparatus.
Senator Tom Cotton has escalated concerns by questioning Tan's previous role at Cadence Design Systems (CDNS), which recently admitted to illegally selling products to a Chinese military university. The situation is further complicated by Intel's role as a recipient of $8 billion in CHIPS Act funding, adding another layer of scrutiny to the ongoing leadership crisis and strategic decisions.