Pat Gelsinger, who led Intel from 2021 through early 2025, warned on The Claman Countdown that the United States cannot afford to fall behind in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. He highlighted Intel’s recent announcement at CES of its Core Ultra Series 3 processors—built on a 1.8-nanometer process—as proof that domestic capacity remains crucial. Gelsinger emphasized that every week of delay in chip production capability risks ceding market share to overseas competitors, and he urged policymakers to rapidly streamline permitting and increase funding for fabrication facilities.

President Trump publicly praised Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan following a meeting at the White House, calling him “very successful” and declaring that the U.S. government is proud to be an Intel shareholder. That investment, originally sized at $8.9 billion in August 2024, has more than doubled in value according to Trump’s statements. The White House backing—which combines CHIPS Act grants and direct equity purchases—reinforces Intel’s turnaround narrative and underscores Washington’s strategy to support a domestic champion in the global chip race.

Shares of Intel jumped by 10.8% on January 9, driven by the combination of technological momentum and high-profile political support. Trading volume that session exceeded 180 million shares, roughly double the three-month daily average of 90 million, indicating broad retail and institutional participation. Comparatively, peers in the semiconductor sector saw muted moves, with AMD and Nvidia each slipping by less than 1%, underlining Intel’s standout performance during the trading day.

With a market capitalization near $196 billion and a gross margin around 35.6%, Intel remains a major global player despite past execution challenges. The company has yet to return to sustained positive free cash flow but has secured strategic investments—including a $5 billion infusion from Nvidia—that bolster its balance sheet. As Intel shifts focus toward AI and sub-2-nanometer architectures, investors will be watching upcoming quarterly results for revenue contributions from the Core Ultra Series 3 line and any updates on capacity expansions in Ohio and Arizona fabrication sites.