WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (Reuters) - The Commerce Department

is continuing to work on the prospect of the U.S. government

taking a 10% stake in Intel ( INTC ), the White House said on

Tuesday, adding that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is

"ironing out the details."

"The President wants to put America's needs first, both from

a national security and economic perspective, and it's a

creative idea that has never been done," White House spokeswoman

Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing.