Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan is set to meet President Trump at the White House on Monday in what could be one of the most pivotal conversations of his career. The meeting comes amid growing political heat over Tan’s alleged ties to China, with the Wall Street Journal reporting it will serve as an opportunity for the embattled executive to personally defend his record and emphasize Intel’s role in U.S.
national security.
The controversy stems from a recent letter by Senator Tom Cotton urging Intel’s board to remove Tan, citing his tenure as CEO of Cadence Design Systems from 2008 to 2021. Under his watch, Cadence pleaded guilty to illegally selling technology to a Chinese university and facilitating a covert tech transfer to a China-based semiconductor firm without proper U.S. licenses – a case that ended in a $140 million settlement with the Department of Justice.
Further scrutiny has been fueled by reports that Tan’s venture capital firm, Walden International, once held significant stakes in companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army – over 40 major stakes and hundreds of minor ones. While Tan has since divested many of these holdings, the shadow of past investments lingers.
Adding complexity to the political drama is Intel’s extensive global footprint, including major design and engineering work conducted by its Israeli teams, responsible for much of the company’s CPU development since Rocket Lake. This global interconnection has stirred speculation about whose interests Tan might be perceived to represent.
In a recent letter to Intel employees, Tan insisted he has “always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards.” Monday’s meeting could determine whether Washington believes him – and whether Intel’s leadership can navigate the storm without a major shake-up.