On August 6, CNBC’s Mad Money host Jim Cramer criticized Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) for losing $18.8 billion on its foundries division last year, even with the help of government subsidies.

The former hedge fund manager questioned whether domestic semiconductor manufacturing was sustainable in the face of global competition, boldly punctuating his take with a declaration that he would sell the stock. 

“Intel lost $18.8 billion on its foundries division in 2024. AND THAT’s with government subsidies. You want to build semis here? We sell your stock.”

Since Cramer took to X to express his opinion, however, Intel shares have soared more than 20%, trading at $24.56 at press time, with the government now eying a stake in the company.

U.S. government to invest in Intel stock?

The Trump administration is in talks with Intel over a potential government-backed investment in the chipmaker, Bloomberg reported on August 11. 

While the scope of the deal is not yet known, the recent rally testifies to its importance, especially given all the speculation about the investment supporting the company’s factory hub in Ohio, the world’s largest chipmaking complex.

Intel has not yet issued any official statements, but White House spokesman Kush Desai has downplayed the report, stating: 

“Discussion about hypothetical deals should be regarded as speculation unless officially announced by the administration.” 

Whether the stories are true or not, a hefty investment would not only be a significant boost for Intel but it would also underscore the Trump administration’s commitment to the industry. 

Recall that the president has already secured a deal requiring Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) to pay a 15% share on certain U.S. chip sales to China.

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