The unusual deal would deepen the Trump administration’s financial ties with major computer chip manufacturers and punctuate a dramatic about-face from the president’s recent push to oust the company’s CEO.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on Tuesday that the US government is considering an extraordinary investment in struggling chipmaker Intel. But they gave different answers about what the Trump administration sought to do with that stake.

Federal officials are considering the move because Intel, the last leading-edge chipmaker in the United States, has been struggling.