Trump: "Taiwan has taken our chip business. They have been making chips for 30 years, longer than us. They have been continuously making chips and ended up driving our companies out of the market. Intel could have become the number one giant. It was me who saved Intel."

This statement indeed reflects Trump's recent views on Taiwan's chip industry and Intel. According to public reports and search results, these statements are not baseless, but they include his personal subjective judgments. This was during a press conference after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2026, that his tariff measures were illegal. He again mentioned Taiwan, using strong language such as "stealing chips."

The Trump administration has long tried through tariffs and administrative means to shift global advanced semiconductor production, especially in Taiwan, to the United States. For example, there had been a goal to transfer 40% of Taiwan's semiconductor supply chain to the United States during his term. This "stealing business" rhetoric is an embodiment of his "America First" policy and the idea of industrial return.

"It was me who saved Intel" is a subjective statement with exaggerated elements.

For Taiwan, Trump's remarks and policies place it in an extremely awkward and dangerous position.

From a political perspective: It verifies the reality of Taiwan becoming a pawn. U.S. officials have not concealed the fact that Taiwan "must make our president happy," because the U.S. is "the key to protecting (Taiwan)." This statement openly reveals the instrumental role of Taiwan in the U.S. strategic chessboard: only by continuously providing benefits and meeting U.S. industrial demands can it gain temporary "protection."

Trump's remarks mark a shift in U.S. policy toward Taiwan from past "security support" to open "industrial exploitation." For Taiwan, this is not just an economic challenge of industrial loss, but also a deep reality of becoming a pawn in great power games.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857776997012480/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.