Former President Donald Trump on Thursday called for the immediate resignation of Intel’s new chief executive, Lip-Bu Tan, labelling the veteran chip industry figure “highly conflicted.”

“ The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately. There is no other solution to this problem,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

The comment did not elaborate on the nature of the “conflict” Trump alleged Tan to be embroiled in.

Trump’s intervention comes days after Republican Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) had written to Intel board chair Frank Yeary to express “concern about the security and integrity of Intel’s operations” over Tan’s multiple business connections in China.

Cotton cited Tan’s history as a prolific investor in Chinese technology companies over the past two decades in the letter, with ties Cotton said “will not inspire confidence that Intel can serve as America’s trusted provider of cutting-edge semiconductor technology.”

Tan’s professional pedigree is deep in Silicon Valley and beyond, with a 30-year career in the semiconductor industry and international venture capital, having founded and led investment firms headquartered in San Francisco and Hong Kong. These entities have channelled investments into a range of Chinese tech start-ups, with past deals including a stake in Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), China’s largest chipmaker.

Tan’s history has also come under recent renewed attention for his former executive role as CEO of California-based Cadence Design Systems, a chip design software company. Cadence last week disclosed it had violated U.S. export controls after divesting chip design technology to a Chinese university with known military links. Cadence’s admission has already sparked criticism from lawmakers and experts who say Tan’s network and history raise uncomfortable questions about his appointment as Intel CEO at a time of great national significance for the U.S. chip industry.

Intel and the White House did not respond to requests for comment on Trump’s post. Intel’s stock price was down 3 percent in pre-market trading in New York on Thursday after Trump’s post.

Intel named Tan as CEO in March after the board voted in December to fire his predecessor, Pat Gelsinger. Tan’s arrival at the head of the Silicon Valley icon comes as it has slipped far behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in cutting-edge chip manufacturing.

Intel is the last U.S.-based company that remains in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing business. However, it has already ceded significant ground to TSMC in the emerging AI chip market, an area now being treated by Washington as a national priority and an area of industry.

Intel has also benefitted from billions of dollars in government subsidies and loans as part of an effort by Washington to strengthen domestic chip manufacturing, with a stated aim of reducing the country’s dependence on foreign chipmakers, especially those in Taiwan and South Korea.

However, with Intel now lagging behind TSMC in advanced chip manufacturing, the onus is on Tan to show results. In July, Tan himself said that Intel would have to halt the development of next-generation manufacturing technology, which produces some of the world’s most advanced chips, without a “significant external customer” to make use of it. If Intel were to give up on this work, TSMC would then have an effective monopoly on leading-edge chipmaking. This would not only be a major blow to the semiconductor industry but also to the U.S. government, which sees this technology as key to national security.

Amid this uncertainty, Tan has implemented aggressive cost-cutting to bolster profits. The efforts have been received with enthusiasm by some on Wall Street. However, other analysts and lawmakers raise further doubts about Intel’s strategic direction.

Senator Cotton’s letter cited this point in asking that Yeary put more rigorous security and risk oversight in place at Intel, saying that, as a recipient of taxpayer-funded subsidies, Intel’s leadership was obliged to ensure greater corporate compliance and integrity. “Intel is required to be a responsible steward of American taxpayer dollars and to comply with applicable security regulations,” Cotton said. “Mr Tan’s associations raise questions about Intel’s ability to fulfill these obligations.”

Tan’s network and background are at the centre of the debate over Intel’s future. On the one hand, there is an argument to be made that his long experience in the industry and connections in Asia are assets at a time of great globalisation in the semiconductor sector. On the other hand, his investments in Chinese companies and leadership at Cadence, which has admitted to violating U.S. export controls, are evidence for those who fear that Tan will be a liability in the U.S. strategic competition with China in tech.

Trump, who has made technology and trade issues with China a staple of his political discourse, seems to be of the second school of thought. His call for Tan’s resignation is an ominous sign that Intel’s challenges may become further politicised just as the U.S. has started to ramp up action against China’s ambitions in semiconductor manufacturing.

Intel now faces a pivotal moment. Tan’s leadership is on the line as Intel’s share price comes under pressure and Trump’s criticism looms. The road ahead for Intel will have major implications for U.S. technology primacy, the global chip supply chain, and the ongoing contest to win in the new era of artificial intelligence hardware.