Trump Praises Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan as Federal Stake Value Surpasses $18 Billion

The U.S. government just turned an $8.9 billion bet into an $18 billion windfall in just four months. President Donald Trump is taking a victory lap over Intel's recent success.

On Thursday, January 8, 2026, President Trump posted a glowing message on Truth Social following a meeting with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Trump described the meeting as "great" and hailed Tan as "very successful," a sharp contrast to his critical tone just months ago. Intel shares jumped 2% in extended trading following the post.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan Trump Meeting 2026: A Financial Windfall

The relationship between the Trump administration and Intel has solidified through a massive 10% ownership stake taken by the U.S. government in August 2025. Since that $8.9 billion investment, fueled by CHIPS Act grants, Intel's stock has soared by 75%. This surge has effectively doubled the government's investment value, making the American public the company's largest shareholder.

"Our Country is determined to bring leading edge Chip Manufacturing back to America, and that is exactly what is happening!!!" Trump wrote. This pivot follows a period of tension in August when Trump called for Tan's resignation over alleged China ties, a concern previously raised by Senator Tom Cotton.

The 18A Breakthrough and Future Challenges

The timing of this praise coincides with Intel's announcement at CES regarding the availability of its 2-nanometer 18A PC chips. Intel claims this process is the most advanced ever produced on U.S. soil. While this marks a technical milestone, the company still faces hurdles, including the delayed opening of its Ohio plant, now scheduled for 2030 or 2031, and ongoing competition from AMD and Nvidia.