Intel Taps Former Trump Economic Aide to Lead Lobbying as U.S. Influence Grows

Intel Corp. has appointed Robin Colwell, a former senior economic adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new head of government affairs. The move underscores the chipmaker’s pivot toward deeper Washington engagement following the U.S. government’s unprecedented acquisition of a 10% equity stake in the company earlier this year.

Colwell, who most recently served as deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the National Economic Council, will lead Intel’s global public policy strategy. She steps into the role left vacant by Bruce Andrews, a former Obama-era official who exited the company following the recent corporate restructuring.

Navigating state ownership

The appointment is strategically critical. With the U.S. government now holding a direct ownership interest—a measure taken to stabilize the country’s domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities—Intel faces a unique regulatory environment.

Having a senior figure with recent West Wing experience is seen as vital for navigating the complex interplay of federal funding, national security mandates, and the operational oversight that comes with state equity.

The ‘Tan Era’ leadership overhaul

The hiring is part of a broader C-suite reshuffle under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who is rapidly putting his stamp on the silicon giant.

Intel named James Chew as vice president of Intel Government Technologies, the unit handling sensitive defense and intelligence contracts. Chew is an alumnus of Cadence Design Systems, where Tan previously served as CEO, signaling Tan’s reliance on trusted lieutenants to stabilize the ship.

Additionally, Annie Shea Weckesser has been appointed chief marketing and communications officer. Weckesser joins from SambaNova Systems, an AI chip startup previously backed by Tan’s venture capital firm.

Technology leadership shift

In the R&D wing, Pushkar Ranade, previously Tan’s chief of staff, has been named interim chief technology officer. He replaces Sachin Katti, who departed Intel last month to join OpenAI, marking another high-profile talent exit to the booming generative AI sector.

Brief Summary

Intel has appointed Robin Colwell, a former senior economic adviser to President Trump, as its new head of government affairs. The move aims to strengthen ties with Washington following the U.S. government’s acquisition of a 10% stake in the company. CEO Lip-Bu Tan also announced a slate of other senior hires, drawing heavily from his past networks at Cadence and SambaNova to reshape Intel’s strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Who is Robin Colwell?

Robin Colwell is Intel’s new head of government affairs. She previously served as a deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and deputy director of the National Economic Council, bringing high-level White House experience to the chipmaker.

Q2: Why is this appointment controversial?

It represents a shifting of the guard from Democratic-aligned lobbyists (like her predecessor Bruce Andrews) to Republican-aligned figures, reflecting the political reality of the current administration and Intel’s need to align with White House priorities.

Q3: Does the US government own part of Intel?

Yes. In this timeline (2025), the U.S. government acquired a 10% equity stake in Intel to prevent the collapse of domestic chip manufacturing, making government relations the company’s most critical operational function.

Q4: Who is Lip-Bu Tan?

Lip-Bu Tan is the current CEO of Intel. A semiconductor industry veteran and former CEO of Cadence Design Systems, he took the helm to restructure the struggling chip giant.

Q4: Why are these leadership changes happening now?

Intel is in the middle of a massive turnaround effort. Tan is bringing in trusted executives from his previous companies (Cadence, SambaNova) to align Intel’s strategy with the new realities of AI demand and government-backed manufacturing.