Honestly, if you’ve been following the chip wars lately, the drama at Intel feels less like a boardroom meeting and more like a high-stakes political thriller. One day everything is "business as usual," and the next, the President is on Truth Social basically demanding the CEO pack his bags. It's been a wild ride.
The whole "Intel CEO resign" saga actually involves two different leaders and a massive amount of political pressure. First, you had Pat Gelsinger, the long-time Intel veteran who was supposed to be the company's savior. He "retired" (read: was forced out) in December 2024. Then came Lip-Bu Tan in March 2025, who barely had time to find the cafeteria before Donald Trump was publicly calling for his resignation in August 2025.
If you’re confused, you aren’t alone. The timeline of leadership at Intel has become a revolving door while the company tries to figure out how to stop losing billions to Nvidia.
The Gelsinger Exit: Why the "Savior" Had to Go
When Pat Gelsinger took over Intel in 2021, the vibe was electric. He was an "Intel guy" through and through. He talked about "Gelmance"—the idea that his engineering-first approach would bring back the glory days. But by late 2024, the math just wasn't mathing.
Intel missed the AI boat. Badly. While Nvidia’s market cap was soaring into the trillions, Intel was dealing with $39 billion drops in market value overnight. By December 1, 2024, the board had seen enough. They gave Gelsinger an ultimatum: retire gracefully or get fired. He chose the "retirement" route after 40 years with the company.
It’s kinda sad when you think about it. Gelsinger actually moved back to the Silicon Valley area with the intention of a five-year turnaround. He only got three. The board's loss of confidence wasn't just about the stock price; it was the fact that their "18A" manufacturing process—the one supposed to beat Taiwan’s TSMC—felt like it was constantly just around the corner but never quite here.
Trump vs. Lip-Bu Tan: The Resignation Demand That Shook the Market
After Gelsinger left, Intel spent a few months with interim co-CEOs David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus. Then, in March 2025, they brought in Lip-Bu Tan.
Tan is a legend in the semiconductor world. He turned Cadence Design Systems into a powerhouse and has a track record of making investors very, very rich. But he brought some baggage with him: decades of venture capital investing in China.
In August 2025, Senator Tom Cotton sent a spicy letter to Intel’s board. He pointed out that Tan had allegedly invested in over 600 Chinese companies, some of which were linked to the People’s Liberation Army. This caught the eye of President Trump.
On August 7, 2025, Trump posted:
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"The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem."
Stock prices tumbled immediately. Investors were terrified that Intel—the "national champion" of U.S. chipmaking—was about to lose its CEO again just five months into his tenure.
The White House Meeting That Changed Everything
What happened next was classic Trump-era drama. Instead of resigning, Lip-Bu Tan went to the White House.
Just a few days after the "resign immediately" post, Tan met with Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. It was a make-or-break moment for Intel's leadership.
Whatever Tan said in that meeting worked. Trump did a total 180. He posted afterward that the meeting was "very interesting" and called Tan’s rise an "amazing story." He even referred to him as "the very successful Intel CEO."
The resignation threat vanished into thin air. Intel’s stock, which had been in the gutter, jumped over 5% almost instantly. It was a masterclass in corporate-political maneuvering. Tan basically convinced the administration that Intel’s success was synonymous with America's success, especially with the new 25% tariffs on foreign-made chips looming.
What Most People Get Wrong About Intel’s Current State
People keep talking about the CEO drama like it's the only problem. It's not. Intel is currently trying to do something no other company has ever successfully done: be a world-class chip designer and a world-class chip manufacturer (foundry) at the same time.
- The Foundry Mess: Intel Foundry lost $13 billion in its first year. They’re trying to build "fabs" (factories) in Ohio and Arizona, but these projects are incredibly expensive and prone to delays.
- The Nvidia Gap: Intel is still playing catch-up in AI. Their Gaudi chips are okay, but they aren't H100s.
- The Government Stake: In August 2025, the U.S. government actually took a 10% stake in Intel to keep it afloat. Trump has since praised this investment, claiming it’s already made a "fortune" for the American people.
Honestly, Intel is currently "too big to fail" in the eyes of Washington. If Intel goes under, the U.S. loses its only real shot at domestic high-end chip manufacturing. That's why Tan survived the resignation call—he's the guy the government is now betting on to protect that investment.
Is Lip-Bu Tan Still the CEO?
As of early 2026, yes, Lip-Bu Tan is still running the show. He’s been busy trimming the fat. Intel has cut over 24,000 jobs since late 2024. He’s also looking to spin off non-core units, like their networking division, to focus entirely on the "18A" process and AI.
He's basically turned Intel into a leaner, more aggressive company. He’s less about the "Intel culture" and more about "customer-centric innovation." He’s even managed to get Nvidia to agree to build some of their chips in Intel’s U.S. factories—a move that seemed impossible two years ago.
Actionable Insights for Investors and Tech Watchers
If you’re looking at Intel right now, don't just focus on the headlines about who is sitting in the big chair. Look at these three things:
1. Watch the "18A" Milestones
The success of Intel depends entirely on their 18A manufacturing node. If they can prove by mid-2026 that they can produce chips as well as TSMC, the stock will likely soar. If there’s another delay, expect more "CEO resign" rumors.
2. Follow the Tariff Impact
With the Trump administration’s 25% tariff on foreign chips, Intel has a massive home-field advantage. If you're an investor, check if Intel can actually meet the demand that these tariffs will create.
3. Monitor the Government Stake
The fact that the U.S. government owns 10% of Intel is a double-edged sword. It provides a safety net, but it also means more political interference. Any change in the administration's "America First" agenda will hit Intel harder than any other tech company.
The era of Intel being a sleepy legacy company is over. Whether it's Trump's social media posts or Gelsinger's "forced retirement," Intel is now the center of a global tug-of-war. Lip-Bu Tan seems to have the upper hand for now, but in this industry, that can change with a single quarterly report.
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Keep an eye on the upcoming 2026 earnings calls. They’ll tell us if Tan’s "aggressive" restructuring is actually working or if we’re headed for another round of leadership musical chairs.