US Government Takes 10pc Stake in Intel Amid Chip Strategy

Intel

Washington Pushes Semiconductor Independence

US president Donald Trump confirmed that the government acquired a 10pc stake in Intel, worth about $11bn. He emphasized that the US “paid nothing” for the shares. The move comes alongside the administration’s broader push to expand domestic semiconductor production.

Trump previously announced a 100pc tariff on all chip and semiconductor imports. However, companies currently building or committed to building plants in the US will be exempt from the charge. This strategy reflects efforts to strengthen US energy and technology security while reducing dependence on foreign chip supply.

Government Expands Strategic Holdings in Key Sectors

The Intel stake is not the first direct government involvement in industry under Trump. The administration took a “golden share” during Nippon Steel’s acquisition of US Steel. In another case, the Department of Defense invested $400mn in rare earth producer MP Materials, securing a 15pc stake.

Such actions demonstrate a pattern of strategic intervention in critical supply chains. By aligning government investment with national security priorities, Washington signals that semiconductors now rank alongside steel and rare earths as essential for long-term resilience.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The US government’s stake in Intel underscores the growing overlap between industrial strategy and national security. As tariffs reshape global trade, semiconductors remain central to technological leadership and geopolitical competition.