# Trump Claims Apple-Intel Chip Deal – Neither Company Confirms > Source: > Published: 2026-06-18 17:43:27+00:00 [President Donald Trump](https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-says-apple-work-with-intel-manufacture-chips-us-2026-06-18/) claimed Apple has agreed to work with [Intel](https://www.intel.com/) to “design and build” chips in America, building on Apple’s broader custom silicon ambitions. The [Wall Street Journal](https://www.wsj.com/tech/intel-shares-bounce-premarket-after-trump-announces-apple-partnership-19e5123d) separately reported a preliminary agreement between the two companies, reached after more than a year of negotiations. Neither [Apple](https://www.gadgetreview.com/apple-cooks-up-custom-silicon-smart-glasses-and-ai-chips-signal-techs-next-evolution) nor [Intel](https://www.gadgetreview.com/intel-wildcat-lake-laptops-challenge-macbook-neo-with-double-the-specs) has issued a confirming statement as of publication. The biggest chip deal announcement of the year reportedly came from a politician, not a chipmaker. ## What’s Actually Known — and What Isn’t *The reported arrangement is preliminary at best — details on chip types, timelines, and production scope remain unconfirmed by either company.* Details remain frustratingly thin. The reported arrangement would position Intel as a **foundry partner** — manufacturing Apple-designed chips — not a return to Intel-designed processors. Apple moved away from Intel processors in **2020** when it launched [ Apple Silicon](https://support.apple.com/en-ph/116943). [Analysts](https://www.investing.com/analysis/appleintel-chip-manufacturing-deal-reshapes-foundry-race-200682398)have speculated Apple might test Intel’s **18A process node** before committing to larger production runs, though nothing about specific chip types, timelines, or product lines has been confirmed. Here’s what you can pin down right now: - Trump claimed the deal on Truth Social; Apple and Intel have not publicly confirmed it - The WSJ reported a preliminary agreement, not a finalized commercial contract - Intel’s role would be as a contract manufacturer, not a chip designer - The U.S. government took a **10% stake** in Intel via an**$8.9 billion** investment in August 2025 - Intel shares jumped immediately on the news, reflecting investor confidence in the reported foundry win “Apple has agreed to work with Intel to design and build chips in America.” — [President Donald Trump.](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/18/trump-intel-apple-chip-design-deal.html) ## Why Both Sides Want This to Work *Apple needs manufacturing options; Intel needs a marquee customer — and right now, both companies’ interests reportedly converge on the same deal.* Apple’s motivation tracks directly to **supply chain risk**. Exclusive reliance on TSMC made sense when capacity was abundant. It makes less sense now — AI chip demand has compressed TSMC’s available capacity significantly, and depending on a single manufacturer for your most critical components is a vulnerability Apple can no longer afford to ignore. A second manufacturing source gives [Apple](https://www.gadgetreview.com/apples-foldable-iphone-wouldve-flopped-without-perfect-ai-timing) meaningful optionality, the kind of supply chain hedging that became a boardroom priority after pandemic-era shortages exposed just how fragile single-source dependencies can be. For Intel, the calculus is even starker. The company’s entire **foundry strategy** — its high-stakes pivot toward contract manufacturing — needs a marquee external customer to be credible. Landing Apple would validate Intel’s advanced manufacturing capabilities in a way no press release ever could. The U.S. government’s $8.9 billion stake and 10% equity position add political gravity to the equation. Washington has clear incentive to see this deal confirmed publicly, a trend mirrored by broader [AI infrastructure](https://www.gadgetreview.com/openai-and-partners-launch-500-billion-stargate-project) investment initiatives backed by the federal government. ## What Comes Next *Official confirmation from Apple, Intel, or U.S. officials is the only signal that moves this from reported rumor to real deal.* Your signal to watch is straightforward: a formal statement from Apple, Intel, or U.S. government officials. Upcoming **earnings calls** for both companies represent the most likely venues for any on-record confirmation. For consumers, a confirmed deal would mark the first credible alternative to TSMC in Apple’s chip supply chain in five years — a meaningful shift in how your devices get made. Until that confirmation arrives, this remains a preliminary agreement amplified by a presidential post — and given the history of [tech scandals](https://www.gadgetreview.com/evil-tech-scandals-failures-that-took-advantage-millions-people) and unverified corporate announcements, skepticism is warranted. The deal may be real. The proof isn’t here yet.