WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Liberal U.S. Senator

Bernie Sanders on Wednesday threw his support behind Republican

President Donald Trump's plan to convert up to $10.9 billion in

U.S. grants for Intel ( INTC ) into a government stake in the company.

"If microchip companies make a profit from the generous

grants they receive from the federal government, the taxpayers

of America have a right to a reasonable return on that

investment," Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with

Democrats, said in a statement to Reuters.