The U.S. government on 2026-07-03 formally announced the introduction of 'targeted' semiconductor tariffs and increased pressure for domestic U.S. production investment. ^[1] U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on 2026-07-02 in a Bloomberg TV interview that the U.S. government is preparing 'targeted and careful' semiconductor tariffs, and that foreign firms would pay to access the U.S. market unless they build factories there. ^[2] When asked whether Samsung and SK Hynix should consider themselves 'on notice', Lutnick responded that they will and must build in the U.S., emphasizing the importance of building there, in an interview on 2026-07-02. ^[3] Sen. Thom Tillis wrote on X that he has never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve the country by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. ^[4] Lutnick stated that TSMC and Micron have committed a combined $1.2 trillion in U.S. production investments, and that his goal is for 50% of U.S. semiconductor production to occur domestically by the end of his term. ^[5] Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned earlier in the week after clashing with Hegseth over the Defense secretary's reluctance to modernize the Army and his firings of dozens of senior officers. ^[6] President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Tillis was a quitter and accused him of screwing the Republican Party. ^[7] Sen. Thom Tillis stated that Hegseth is intimidated by competence and retreats to ginning up culture wars instead of attending to the vital work of national defense. ^[8]