美国总统特朗普对英特尔CEO谭普顿（Lip-Bu Tan）态度的转变，折射出美国半导体产业在全球竞争中的深层焦虑。曾几何时，英特尔是美国科技实力的象征，但如今，美国在全球先进芯片制造的份额已从1990年的37%骤降至12%，而亚洲则占据75%的份额。谭普顿作为新任CEO，不仅要应对公司自身在技术研发、市场策略上的困境，如与竞争对手的代差以及手机芯片市场的失利，更需面对来自政界的“中国关联”质疑，这背后是美国对国家安全和经济主权的担忧。同时，公司内部也存在关于是否应剥离亏损的制造业务、转向更轻资产模式的战略分歧。英特尔的未来，以及美国能否重拾芯片制造的辉煌，都悬于一线。

🇺🇸 政治风波的导火索：美国总统特朗普对英特尔CEO谭普顿态度的戏剧性转变，源于对其“严重利益冲突”的指控，尽管后来特朗普表示与谭普顿进行了“有意义”的会谈，但这一事件暴露了美国半导体产业高度敏感的政治环境。

📉 美国芯片制造的衰退：文章指出，美国在全球先进芯片制造领域的份额已从1990年的37%下降到12%，而亚洲则占据了75%，这凸显了美国在半导体产业的领导地位正在被侵蚀，英特尔作为曾经的行业巨头，也面临着市场市值缩水、技术落后于竞争对手等严峻挑战。

🇨🇳 战略与质疑并存：作为风险投资家，英特尔CEO谭普顿曾投资包括中国半导体代工厂中芯国际（SMIC）在内的多家科技公司，这引发了部分美国政界人士对其“中国关联”的担忧，认为可能危及美国国家安全。谭普顿则强调自己对美国的忠诚，并将公司成功视为国家安全和经济实力的关键。

💡 内部战略分歧：英特尔长期坚持集成设备制造商（IDM）模式，即自行设计和制造芯片。然而，由于代工业务亏损，公司内部出现了关于剥离制造部门或出售给竞争对手（如台积电）的讨论。前董事长弗兰克·耶里（Frank Yeary）等人主张改变模式，而前CEO帕特·盖尔辛格（Pat Gelsinger）曾推动代工业务以确保美国自主性，但又削减了在欧洲和美国的工厂投资，引发更多争议。

🚀 复兴之路的挑战：谭普顿接任CEO，肩负着重振英特尔的重任。他不仅要克服技术和市场上的挑战，还要在复杂的政治环境中 navigating，并在公司内部的战略方向上寻求共识。资本市场对英特尔的未来持谨慎乐观态度，但前路依然充满不确定性。

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan

AsianFin — In a remarkable turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed his public stance on Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, a move that highlights the deep anxieties and political tensions swirling around the U.S. semiconductor industry.

Just days after calling for Tan's immediate resignation, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he had a "meaningful" meeting with the CEO and other officials, praising Tan's "remarkable stories."

 

The initial demand for Tan’s removal, which stemmed from vague accusations of a "serious conflict of interest," ignited a firestorm of speculation and drew widespread commentary from industry experts. The central issue at hand is not just a political spat, but a reflection of the U.S.'s declining position in global advanced chip manufacturing.

The Broader Context: A Fading American Dominance

This dramatic episode has thrust Intel, a company once synonymous with American technological supremacy, into the center of a national debate. The Wall Street Journal framed the incident as a litmus test for the U.S. chip sector, which has been in a slow, steady decline for decades. According to data from the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association, America's share of global chip production has plummeted from 37% in 1990 to just 12% today. This stands in stark contrast to Asia, which now accounts for a staggering 75% of global manufacturing, led by giants like TSMC and Samsung.

Intel, once the world's most valuable semiconductor company, has seen its own market capitalization halved since the beginning of last year. It has struggled with a series of failed acquisitions and strategic missteps, particularly its inability to gain a foothold in the smartphone chip market. The company’s manufacturing technology has reportedly fallen more than two generations behind its competitors. A significant portion of Intel’s chip wafers are now manufactured externally, a trend that is only growing.

Tan, a veteran of the semiconductor industry, took the helm as Intel’s ninth CEO in March 2025. He replaced Pat Gelsinger, who had also faced scrutiny for his leadership decisions. Gelsinger's tenure was marked by a push for cost-cutting and a massive global layoff of 20,000 employees, which put him at odds with the "America First" agenda.

Tan, like Gelsinger, is now navigating the difficult path of reviving the struggling giant. His background has made him a target for political scrutiny. As the founder of the venture capital firm Walden International, Tan has a history of investing in numerous technology companies, including an early stake in SMIC, a major Chinese semiconductor foundry. This has led to accusations of "China ties" from political figures like Senator Tom Cotton, who questioned if his leadership could compromise U.S. national security.

In a letter to employees, Tan directly addressed the accusations, emphasizing his deep commitment to the United States. "Leading Intel at this critical moment is not just a job—it is an honor," he wrote, framing the company's success as vital to America's "national security" and "economic strength."

A Battle Over Strategy

The political pressure comes at a time of internal division over Intel's strategic direction. The company has long adhered to an Integrated Device Manufacturing (IDM) model, designing and manufacturing its own chips. However, with its foundry business operating at a loss, some, including former board chairman Frank Yeary, have proposed spinning off the manufacturing arm or even selling it to rivals like TSMC.

Tan's predecessor, Pat Gelsinger, had championed the foundry business as crucial to ensuring the U.S. remained independent of foreign manufacturers. However, Gelsinger's decision to scale back investments in new factories in Germany, Poland, and Ohio further complicated his relationship with a government pushing for more domestic production.

For now, the capital markets remain cautious but hopeful. Despite the political noise and a disappointing Q2 earnings report, Intel's stock saw a modest increase. However, the path forward is anything but clear.

The saga of Tan and Trump is a vivid illustration of the broader challenges facing Intel and the U.S. chip industry as a whole—a battle not just for market share, but for national pride and technological sovereignty.

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