Trump administration shocked everyone when Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced in August 2026 that the US government had taken a 10% stake in chipmaker Intel. "BIG NEWS: The United States of America now owns 10% of Intel, one of our great American technology companies.

Trump claims Intel would dominate chips if he were president. The reality involves $8.9B in government investment, TSMC's enduring lead, and a long road ahead.

The chipmaker's stock has soared since the U.S. equity deal in August gave the government 9.9% of the company.