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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Monday that the FBI is looking into the matter involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and a woman reported to be a Chinese government agent, and that he believes Huang “will be in good shape.” Trump spoke at an impromptu White House briefing after, he said, he called Huang earlier in the day.
“I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he’ll be in good shape,” Trump said.
By Trump’s account, Huang told him he “had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy.” Trump said he called “to see if he’s feeling all right,” and called Huang “a very honorable man.” He said he was “amazed” by the allegations. These are the president’s words describing a private call. The FBI has not announced an investigation or any charges.
Nvidia’s board said Sunday that it is starting an independent investigation after reports that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. Huang acknowledged in an open letter that he was unfaithful to his wife, apologized to the company, and said he would cooperate fully. Reports say U.S. intelligence agencies concluded the woman was gathering information for Beijing. China denied the claim on Monday and called it a smear. Nvidia has said Huang remains CEO, and prediction markets have favored him keeping the job.
Trump said he is not sure he will raise the matter with Chinese leader Xi Jinping when they meet next week at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China. “I’m sure President Xi will ask me about it,” he said.
Why it matters: Nvidia designs the chips behind the AI boom, and Huang has lobbied Washington on chip sales to China. The president publicly backing the head of a company under a national security question puts the White House beside Huang while the board review is open.
Still unknown: what the FBI is examining, since Trump described it only as “something else”; whether the board review finds any security lapse; and what Huang or Nvidia will say about the president’s account.
JBizNews Desk | Washington
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