Previous to Trump’s statement, four former directors of Intel published a commentary exclusive to Fortune, saying the company was likely to retreat as America’s chips champion. After the president’s statement, they advocated for a separation of Intel’s essential foundry business that’s so core to national security.

The Trump administration is in talks with Intel Corp. to have the US government take a stake in the beleaguered chipmaker, according to people familiar with the plan, in the latest sign of the White House's willingness to blur the lines between state and industry.