Intel CEO Takes Heat for Donald Trump Event, Now Canceled
June 02 2016 - 4:13PM
Dow Jones News
By Don Clark
Intel Corp. Chief Executive Brian Krzanich, who has pushed the
semiconductor maker to hire more women and minorities, became a
surprise target of Donald Trump's opponents for planning to host a
fundraiser for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
The event, reported late Wednesday by the New York Times, was
expected to have been held at Mr. Krzanich's house Thursday night
but subsequently was called off.
Mr. Krzanich couldn't be reached for comment Thursday, but in a
post on Twitter, he said he doesn't intend to endorse any
presidential candidate. "We are interested in engaging both
campaigns in open dialogue on issues important to the technology
industry," he wrote.
Even a suggestion of financial support for Mr. Trump is likely
to touch off criticism in Silicon Valley, where many tech
executives and workers hold liberal views on social matters and
support open immigration policies. Mr. Trump has proposed policies
that many in the tech industry oppose, such as temporarily banning
Muslims from entering the U.S., and he has attracted opposition
from women's groups for his views on abortion and other issues.
Any ties to Mr. Trump could present public-relations problems
for Intel and for Mr. Krzanich, in view of his highly publicized
efforts to make Intel's workforce more diverse by hiring more women
and minorities.
An Intel spokeswoman said she had no further information about
the event or the reason it was canceled.
"That event is not taking place due to a scheduling conflict," a
spokeswoman for the Trump campaign said.
Most reactions on Twitter were sharply critical. "As a Latino in
tech Intel just became an unattractive place to work," one person
posted.
Another writer made a pointed reference to Andy Grove, the late
Intel chief executive and Holocaust survivor: "Given that Intel has
rich history of diversity initiatives & Mr. Grove
Hungarian-born, your stance all the more disappointing."
Like many Silicon Valley companies, Intel prefers to let trade
associations speak for the company on many legislative topics. The
company doesn't contribute corporate funds to federal candidates
but donates to support local candidates and issues where permitted
by law.
The chip maker has operated a voluntary employee political
action committee since 1980, contributing 52% to Republicans in
2016 and 47% to Democrats, according to public records compiled by
OpenSecrets.org. Mr. Krzanich, who regularly contributes to the
PAC, gave $1,500 in 2009 to Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat,
according to the research group MapLight.
Mr. Krzanich, who became Intel's CEO in the spring 2013, has
become known for his stands on causes such as reducing Intel's
reliance on minerals mined in regions that are caught up in
guerrilla warfare. In January 2015 he pledged to spend $300 million
over five years to boost the company's hiring of women and
minorities.
The company the same month set a goal to reach "full
representation" of women and underrepresented minorities in the
company's U.S. workforce by 2020, without providing specific
numerical goals.
--Janet Hook and Rebecca Ballhaus contributed to this
article.
Write to Don Clark at don.clark@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 02, 2016 15:58 ET (19:58 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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