Comment by bigyabai

Considering where the TSMC ticker is sitting right now, this evokes more of a "Reichswerke Hermann Göring" vibe from me. This was a closed-door demand to Taiwan with an "offer" they couldn't refuse, likely illustrated using some of the casualties Ukraine suffered during their brief lapse in American assistance. The government of Taiwan is the largest shareholder in TSMC, and Trump knows that he can threaten abandonment if they ever refuse US demands. Predicate weapons sales on administrating Intel fabs, and a stupid pretense can start to sound like a lucrative long-term investment. I wouldn't put it past a president that tried to sell Ukraine weapons they already owned by mining minerals they don't have.

> Keep your competitor alive so the antitrust folks don't come down on you?

It would be deeply ironic of America to attack Europe over antitrust litigation while trying to prosecute TSMC for "monopoly" abuse. Protectionism aside, the American economy stands only to harm itself by forcing TSMC out of the country. That would be like the tech industry cutting off its right arm to spite a pimple on its face.