Intel Shares Surge After CEO Meets Trump as U.S. Stake Doubles in Value
- Sara Montes de Oca
- Jan 9
- 2 min read
Shares of Intel jumped roughly 10% Friday after CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with Donald Trump, extending a rally that has seen the stock more than double since the U.S. government took a major equity stake in the chipmaker last summer.
Following the meeting, Trump praised both Tan and the company in a post on Truth Social, writing that “the United States Government is proud to be a Shareholder of Intel.” He also highlighted the company’s latest processor as being “designed, built, and packaged right here in the U.S.A.”
Tan responded publicly, saying he was honored by the support and “delighted to have the full encouragement” of Trump and Howard Lutnick. He added that Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processors — the company’s first major product built on its Intel 18A manufacturing process — are now shipping.
The rally underscores the dramatic turnaround in Intel’s fortunes since August, when the White House negotiated an $8.9 billion investment in the company, acquiring 433.3 million shares at $20.47 each. That stake is now valued at roughly $19 billion, while Intel shares are up nearly 20% year to date.
The improved relationship marks a sharp reversal from earlier tensions between Trump and Tan. Just weeks before the government investment was announced, Trump had publicly called for Tan’s resignation, citing concerns raised by Sen. Tom Cotton over the CEO’s past connections to Chinese companies and potential national security risks.
At the time, Intel said its leadership was “deeply committed to advancing U.S. national and economic security interests,” while Tan emphasized that he has operated within “the highest legal and ethical standards” throughout his more than four decades in the semiconductor industry.
Tan was appointed CEO in March 2025, stepping into the role amid declining sales and operational instability following the tenure of former CEO Pat Gelsinger. Since then, Intel has positioned itself as a central pillar of the U.S. effort to rebuild domestic semiconductor manufacturing — a strategy now reinforced by both government backing and renewed political support.
