President Donald Trump publicly signaled his support for Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Monday, revealing he had spoken with the tech executive following explosive allegations that Huang engaged in an extramarital affair with an operative identified as a Chinese spy.
During an impromptu press briefing at the White House, the president disclosed that he reached out to Huang earlier in the day. “I called him to see if he’s feeling all right,” Trump told reporters. The president reported that during their conversation, the CEO maintained his innocence regarding the alleged connection to foreign intelligence. “He said, ‘I had no idea that she was a spy,’ and I really, and I really believe him,” Trump said.
The controversy erupted late Sunday when Nvidia’s board of directors announced it was launching an independent investigation into reports that Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. Simultaneously, the CEO issued a public apology to his employees, confirming he had been “unfaithful” to his wife. Sources familiar with the matter have since confirmed to NBC News that U.S. intelligence agencies determined the woman, identified as Alice Huang—no relation to the CEO—is an operative for the Chinese government.
Despite the scandal, Trump praised the Nvidia founder, calling him a “very high-quality person” and an “amazing guy.” For the second consecutive day, the president expressed his desire for Huang to remain at the helm of the semiconductor giant, stating, “I think that he’ll be in good shape.”
While the president has offered a vote of confidence, the markets and Capitol Hill remain deeply unsettled. Nvidia shares closed down 4.2% on Monday, making it the worst-performing company on both the Dow and the Nasdaq as investors reacted to the uncertainty surrounding the leadership of one of the world’s most valuable tech firms.
The situation has triggered intense scrutiny from Congress. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who is poised to become the next speaker of the House, formally requested a full briefing on the events engulfing the company. The implications have also bridged the partisan divide; Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Jim Banks, R-Ind., issued a rare joint statement demanding “decisive action” from Congress regarding the oversight of AI-linked companies.
“The disclosures by Nvidia and Huang make these national security concerns even more urgent and raise important questions Nvidia must answer,” the senators wrote.
While Nvidia has previously stated that it intends to keep Huang in his current role despite the revelations, the company remained silent on Monday following the president’s remarks. The FBI is currently probing the events, and as the investigation deepens, the pressure on both Nvidia’s leadership and federal regulators to address potential national security breaches continues to mount.
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