The U.S. government has completed an $8.9 billion purchase of a 9.9 percent, non-voting stake in Intel Corp., giving Washington an unprecedented direct ownership position in the nation’s largest chipmaker. The equity was acquired at about $20.47 a share, using money that had already been earmarked for Intel under federal subsidy programs. Funding for the investment was drawn from $5.7 billion of CHIPS Act grants approved in the prior administration and $3.2 billion from the Secure Enclave program. President Donald Trump said Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan “walked in wanting to keep his job and ended up giving us $10 billion,” while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the deal as a way for taxpayers to obtain a return rather than issuing grants outright. The move has drawn mixed political reaction. Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders praised the government’s stake, whereas Republican Representative Mike Lawler said he generally opposes federal ownership of private companies. Former CHIPS Program Office executives and other industry analysts argue the share purchase does little to address Intel’s core challenge—attracting outside customers to its foundry business—and could distort competition. Lutnick has indicated the administration may seek similar equity arrangements with other semiconductor firms, broadening a policy shift that critics say increases corporate-governance risk for taxpayers. Separately, South Korean media report Samsung Electronics is exploring a strategic partnership with Intel, hoping to capitalize on the White House’s new alignment with “Team Blue.”