Trump’s Reported Interest in Intel Could Bring Hope for Ohio

Intel Corp. was supposed to have a project in Ohio for 2025, though serious delays and other concerns have raised the alarm among lawmakers at the state and federal level.

With the Trump administration reportedly taking an interest in Intel, however, perhaps such concerns may be assuaged.

In recent weeks, there’s been chatter over Intel’s significant delays with their Ohio project, with the time table now pushed into the 2030s. Sen. Tom Cotton-R, Ark., as well as Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and even President Donald Trump, have expressed frustrations about Intel and CEO Lip-Bu Tan, ranging from national security issues to connections with China and fraud.

Trump last week called for Tan’s resignation over Truth Social, though he also met with the CEO at the White House earlier this week. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were also present.

Such a meeting has made news as the White House is reportedly interested in having the U.S. government take a stake in Intel, with coverage from Bloomberg citing “people familiar with the plan.”

If such a plan goes through, that could indeed bring hope for Ohio.

“A deal would help shore up Intel’s planned factory hub in Ohio, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private,” Bloomberg mentioned. “The company had once promised to turn that site into the world’s largest chipmaking facility, though it’s been repeatedly delayed. The size of the potential stake isn’t clear.”

The report also mentioned how Intel’s financial struggles imperiled the project for Ohio.

“Earlier this year, the build-out was delayed until the 2030s, and the company said in July that it would further slow the Ohio plan. Since taking over in March, Tan has focused more on getting Intel’s financial house in order,” the report read.

The project would involve semiconductor manufacturing, with Intel having benefited from the CHIPS Act that then President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022.

WCMH, a local NBC affiliate, points to delays in pledged funding from the CHIPS Act, as well as with the project overall.

“Once the face of domestic semiconductor manufacturing, Intel’s $28 billion Ohio One plant is far from its original opening goal of 2025, now aiming for 2032. In late July, Intel announced it was further slowing construction on Ohio’s facility as its manufacturing division continues to be unprofitable. The company confirmed that slowed efforts do not mean construction will stop entirely,” WCMH mentioned.

Beyond future plans for the manufacturing plant that Intel hopes to bring to Ohio, chatter about any such stake from the U.S. government has brought more immediate good news. Intel shares rose on Thursday and Friday.

The response thus far from the White House is one of caution.

“Discussion about hypothetical deals should be regarded as speculation unless officially announced by the administration,” White House Spokesman Kush Desai said.

The Daily Signal reached out to the White House for any further comment and has also reached out to Intel regarding concerns with Tan as well as about the White House’s reported interest in the company.

At the state level, Ohio Democrats are also concerned. A separate report from WCMH mentioned that state Reps. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio and Sean Patrick Brennan are introducing a resolution for public updates on the project.

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