COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — President Donald Trump is calling on lawmakers to repeal the bipartisan CHIPS Act, which was enacted in 2022 to bolster semiconductor chip manufacturing in the United States with $52.7 billion in subsidies. Trump criticized the legislation, arguing that the funds should instead be used to pay down the national debt.

Intel was set to receive $8.5 billion for investments, including “Ohio One,” through the bipartisan legislation. ABC 6 has reached out to Intel as well as the offices of Governor Mike DeWine, Senator Jon Husted, Congressman Troy Balderson and other state stakeholders for a response to Trump’s comments.

“And just yesterday, Taiwan Semiconductor, the biggest in the world’s most powerful in the world, has a tremendous amount — 97% of the market — announced a $165 billion investment to build the most powerful chips on Earth right here in the U.S.A. And we’re not giving them any money,” Trump said.

Trump continued, “Your CHIPS Act is a horrible, horrible thing. We give hundreds of billions of dollars, and it doesn’t mean a thing. They take our money, and they don’t spend it. All that meant to them. We’re giving them no money. All that was important to them was they didn’t want to pay the tariffs. So, they came and they’re building. And many other companies are coming. We don’t have to give them money, we just want to protect our businesses and our people, and they will come because they won’t have to pay tariffs if they build in America. So, it’s very amazing. You should get rid of the CHIPS Act and whatever’s left over, Mr. Speaker, you should use it to reduce debt or any other reason you want to.”

Trump directed his comments to House Speaker Mike Johnson, advocating for the redirection of CHIPS Act funds to address the country’s financial obligations. Approximately $1.5 billion of the funding is earmarked for an Intel plant planned in Licking County, Ohio.