Trump backs Nvidia chief as board investigates intelligence reports

Speaking to reporters in Florida on 8 November, Trump called Huang “a fine person” and said he had not spoken to him about the matter. Asked whether Huang should stay on, Trump said he believed he should, according to an ANP/Bloomberg report carried by Dutch news site Nieuws.nl.

Nvidia’s board announced an independent investigation into reports that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The board said it had “no reason to believe” national security or Nvidia secrets had been compromised, but that the inquiry would examine all available information.

The Associated Press reported that Huang had acknowledged to the board that he was intimate with a business executive. Citing The New York Times, AP identified her as Alice Huang, a Chinese chip buyer, and reported that US intelligence agencies had concluded she was passing information to Beijing. The two Huangs are not related, according to the Times.

In a letter to employees published by Axios, Jensen Huang apologised to his family and colleagues for being unfaithful to his wife. He said he supported the board’s investigation and would cooperate fully. Nvidia said he was committed to continuing as chief executive without interruption.

Nvidia’s chips are widely used to train and run artificial intelligence models, and its advanced processors have been subject to US export restrictions intended to limit China’s access to cutting-edge technology.

The New York Times also reported that Trump had been briefed about the intelligence findings roughly a year ago, according to Reuters. Asked whether he regretted not acting after that briefing, Trump said he did not, and again praised Huang.