Intel CEO Takes Heat for Donald Trump Event, Now Canceled

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 [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 02, 2016 15:58 ET (19:58 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.