Trump Backs Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang as Board Investigates Alleged Spy Link
Donald Trump said he believes Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang should stay on in the job, as the chipmaker's board investigates reports about Huang's relationship with an alleged Chinese spy. Trump said he had not spoken to Huang about the matter. He described Huang as a fine person who has done an incredible job, and said, "I hope everything is fine there." He also called Huang "an honorable guy."
Nvidia's board of directors said it was launching a probe into reports that Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. Nvidia's board statement announced an independent investigation. On Sunday, Huang wrote in an email to employees that he had had an affair, and he said he would cooperate with the internal investigation.
The story was first reported by The New York Times, which said Huang had developed a close relationship with a Chinese citizen described as a chip buyer. According to reporting by The Guardian, the relationship alleged in the investigation is with Alice Huang, a businesswoman whom U.S. intelligence services suspect of spying for China. U.S. intelligence agencies believe she, acting on behalf of Beijing, pushed Jensen Huang to lobby Trump for relaxed export controls on Nvidia sales in China. Export controls are government limits on the sale of certain technology abroad.
Reports said Trump was briefed on Huang's relationship with Alice Huang last year but took no action. Nvidia has said that neither trade secrets nor U.S. national security had been compromised. Trump said he thinks Huang probably has an excuse for the affair, and said he believes Huang would and should stay on as CEO. Huang has led Nvidia for 33 years and has been married to his wife, Lori, since 1985.
Nvidia shares slid after the claims emerged. Venture capitalist Shaun Maguire defended Huang, saying he had done something incredibly dumb but was one of the greatest entrepreneurs of this generation, and that he was irreplaceable for America's AI leadership. Elon Musk posted "I agree" in response. Bill Ackman wrote that Huang is an incredible human who made a mistake, takes full responsibility, and should be supported with his family.
