Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) shares were trading at $25.25 on Monday, up 3.02% on the day and more than 22% higher over the past month, after President Donald Trump declared that the United States “paid zero” for its newly acquired stake in the semiconductor giant.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed:
“I PAID ZERO FOR INTEL, IT IS WORTH APPROXIMATELY 11 BILLION DOLLARS. All goes to the USA… I will make deals like that for our Country all day long.”
The U.S. government recently acquired roughly a 10% equity stake in Intel, valued at about $11 billion. However, the position was not purchased outright with new taxpayer funds. Instead, it was structured through the conversion of existing subsidies and grants into equity holdings.
Specifically, approximately $5.7 billion in CHIPS Act allocations, $3.2 billion from the Secure Enclave program, and $2.2 billion in prior federal support were restructured into ownership. The move gives the government direct equity exposure to Intel’s growth as part of a broader initiative to bolster domestic chip manufacturing and secure semiconductor supply chains.
‘Great deal’ for the U.S.
Trump framed the stake as a “great deal” for the U.S., stressing that it supports both job creation and national competitiveness. “I love seeing their stock price go up, making the USA RICHER, AND RICHER. More jobs for America!!!” he wrote.
The transaction marks one of the most significant equity conversions of U.S. industrial support in recent history, reflecting a shift from direct subsidies to ownership models that allow taxpayers to share in the upside of corporate performance.
Intel, which has faced pressure from Asian rivals and supply chain disruptions, is a central beneficiary of U.S. efforts to reshore semiconductor capacity. The company’s shares have rallied in recent weeks on optimism around AI-driven demand, CHIPS Act funding, and now government-backed equity support.
