Dominant PC chip manufacturer Intel today announced a US$7 billion investment in a new semiconductor plant. The announcement was made from the White House Oval Office with chie executive Brian Krzanich standing next to President Donald Trump.
The bloggosphere is up in arms that Trump is seemingly receiving the credit for the plant which was first conceived in 2011.
The factory is called Fab 42 and is expected to create 10,000 jobs.
Although work on it was started in 2011, it was discontinued in 2014 due to slowing PC sales.
{loadposition stan}However, Intel has since resurrected the plant as it needs new technology to create next-generation chips in order to compete in the mobile space against the dominant player ARM.
Thank you Brian Krzanich, CEO of @Intel. A great investment ($7 BILLION) in American INNOVATION and JOBS! #AmericaFirst?? pic.twitter.com/76lAiSSQ1l
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017
Krzanich is under fire from a number of quarters for what is seen as a tacky, opportunistic attempt to ride on the coattails of Trump’s presidency.
Meanwhile, Trump is being criticised for taking credit for the investment and its associated job creation as it seemingly has nothing to do with him.
Krzanich has issued an email memo to Intel employees in support of Trump’s “Make America great again” mantra.
“From a tax and regulatory position we have been disadvantaged relative to the rest of the world where we compete," Krzanich wrote.
“That’s why we support the administration’s policies to level the global playing field and make US manufacturing competitive worldwide through new regulatory standards and investment policies.”