Trump Says Apple Will Build Chips With Intel — but Neither Company Confirms It
President Trump claimed on June 18, 2026 that Apple agreed to design and build chips with Intel in the US, sending Intel stock up 10.6% — but neither Apple nor Intel has confirmed any deal.
TL;DR — On June 18, 2026, President Trump claimed on Truth Social that Apple has agreed to design and build chips with Intel in the US, sending Intel shares up 10.6% to $133.99. The catch: neither Apple nor Intel has confirmed any such deal.
A presidential social-media post moved a major chip stock double digits — even though the company it named won't say it's true. That's the strange shape of this week's biggest semiconductor story.
What was claimed
On June 18, 2026, Trump wrote on Truth Social that "Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its Chips in America," per CNBC. Intel rose 10.64% to close at $133.99 — a multi-year high — and dragged the sector up with it (AMD +4.86%, Broadcom +4.70%, Nvidia +2.95%).
The catch: it's unconfirmed
Here's what makes it a story rather than a done deal: neither company confirmed it. Intel declined to comment; Apple didn't respond. Semafor reported the two had been in talks for months, but nothing is signed, and analysts say any Apple revenue would be roughly 12–18 months away even if a deal lands.
Why Intel was already primed to pop
The claim landed on top of real catalysts: Intel's 18A-P process node entered risk production on June 16, and Bernstein raised its price target to $100 from $65 on June 17. The bigger prize is Intel Foundry's turnaround under CEO Lip-Bu Tan, who needs marquee external customers to compete with TSMC and Samsung.
The foundry landscape Apple would be choosing from
| Foundry | Country | Leading-edge node (2026) | Apple relationship |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSMC | Taiwan | N2 (2nm) ramping | Primary chip supplier (A- and M-series) |
| Samsung Foundry | South Korea | SF2 (2nm) | Limited / historical |
| Intel Foundry | USA | 18A / 18A-P (risk production Jun 16) | Reported new customer — unconfirmed |
There's a complication few are pricing in: the US government holds a roughly 10% equity stake in Intel, so a president touting Intel customers raises real conflict-of-interest questions.
"I decided to help Intel because we need to design and build our Chips right here in America," Trump wrote. "Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build its Chips in America." Until Apple or Intel says the same, treat it as a claim, not a contract.
FAQ
Did Apple actually agree to use Intel to make its chips?
That's unconfirmed. President Trump claimed it on June 18, 2026, but neither Apple nor Intel has confirmed a deal. Reporting (Semafor) describes months of talks, not a signed agreement.
Why did Intel stock jump?
Intel rose 10.64% to $133.99 on June 18 on Trump's claim — amplified by real catalysts: its 18A-P node entered risk production June 16 and Bernstein lifted its price target to $100.
When would any Apple chips actually arrive?
Analysts estimate roughly 12–18 months away even if a deal is signed — so nothing imminent.
Why does the US government's Intel stake matter here?
Washington holds about a 10% equity stake in Intel, so a president promoting Intel's customer wins raises conflict-of-interest concerns.
Sources: CNBC, Spokesman-Review / Reuters, Semafor, Tom's Hardware.
Image: JF10, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
← Back to all posts