Intel shares jumped after President Trump described his White House meeting with CEO Lip-Bu Tan as “very interesting” and signaled continued engagement in the coming days. The tone marks a swift pivot from last week, when Trump publicly called for Tan’s resignation amid political scrutiny over Tan’s prior ties and alleged connections raised by critics. The market read the new comments as a de-escalation and a potential opening for policy alignment, boosting investor confidence in Intel’s turnaround narrative.

According to public statements, Tan met with Trump alongside senior economic officials for a candid discussion centered on strengthening U.S. technology leadership and advanced manufacturing. Intel emphasized its commitment to U.S. national and economic security priorities and said it looks forward to close collaboration with the administration as the company pursues its recovery and domestic capacity build-out. The board has continued to back Tan through the controversy, underscoring governance stability during a sensitive strategic phase.

Why it matters: Political risk has been a key overhang for Intel, which is racing to execute a complex manufacturing and product roadmap while seeking government partnership on CHIPS incentives and permitting. A thaw in rhetoric from the White House reduces headline risk, potentially stabilizes stakeholder relationships, and may smooth pathways for funding, regulatory coordination, and defense-related procurement. For investors, that can translate into improved visibility on capital plans, fab timelines, and margin recovery as utilization rises.

Key takeaways for markets:
– A constructive White House dialogue lowers immediate leadership uncertainty and suggests continued talks.
– Alignment on U.S. manufacturing could support incentives, supply-chain resilience, and advanced node investment.
– Board support for Tan signals continuity as Intel navigates competitive pressure and restructures operations.

What to watch next: follow-through from Cabinet-level working sessions, any updates on CHIPS grants or procurement commitments, and whether Intel provides incremental guidance on capex, capacity ramps, or product milestones. Sustained policy cooperation and operational execution will be crucial to convert this sentiment shift into durable valuation support.