Trump says FBI looking into Nvidia CEO’s affair with alleged spy
The US president says he believes Jensen Huang had no idea his partner was a spy, while Congress seeks a closed-door briefing.
Key points
- Donald Trump says the FBI is looking into Jensen Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, an alleged Chinese spy.
- Huang has acknowledged the affair and said sorry to his family.
- Nvidia shares fell about 4% on Monday, wiping roughly $250bn off the company's value.
- Beijing has rejected the allegations as groundless and says they are meant to smear China.
- Congressional committees have asked Huang to attend a closed-door briefing next week.
US President Donald Trump has said the FBI is investigating the relationship between Jensen Huang, the chief executive of Nvidia, and an alleged Chinese spy. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he had spoken with Huang by phone on Monday. According to the BBC, Trump gave few details about the probe, including when it began.
Trump said Huang told him he had no idea the woman was a spy. “I really believe him,” Trump said, as quoted by the BBC. He described Huang as an honorable man and said he hoped there would be no lasting problem for him.
Read also: Nvidia investigates CEO Jensen Huang over alleged spy affair
What is known about the allegations
The woman at the centre of the claims is Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le. According to a New York Times report cited by the BBC, US intelligence officials believe she was a spy for Beijing. The paper also reported that, last spring, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, circulated a note to senior figures in Washington cautioning that the Nvidia chief was closely involved with an alleged Chinese agent.
Alice Huang was managing director of Megaspeed, a Singaporean company that has had dealings with Nvidia. The two Huangs are not related, according to The Guardian.
In a message to staff, Huang acknowledged the affair and said he was sorry for the pain it had caused his spouse and their children. He also said he would work with the company’s internal review.
Market and political reaction
The news hit markets quickly. Nvidia’s share price fell by about 4% during trading on Monday, and the BBC reported that the drop removed about $250bn, or £190bn, from the company’s value.
Nvidia’s board has launched its own probe. The company has said it has no reason to believe its trade secrets or national security were compromised. Several congressional committees have asked Huang to attend a joint closed-door briefing next week, though it is not yet clear whether he will attend.
Some public figures have backed Huang. Elon Musk and investor Bill Ackman both expressed support, according to The Guardian. Ackman said Huang should not get a free pass, but he hoped the matter was a simple affair rather than a national security risk.
China’s response and why it matters
Beijing has rejected the claims. Its foreign ministry said the allegations were groundless and intended to smear China, according to the BBC. The Associated Press, cited by The Guardian, reported that foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the accusations as baseless vilification.
The case matters because Nvidia designs advanced chips used to power AI systems and sits at the centre of the technology rivalry between the United States and China. Washington treats the company’s chip exports to China as a national security issue. Trump said he expected Chinese leader Xi Jinping would raise the matter with him when they next meet.
Several points remain unconfirmed, including the scope and start date of the FBI probe, and whether the allegations are proven. The FBI declined to comment to the BBC.
Related: Nvidia shares fall after probe into CEO Jensen Huang’s affair
Frequently asked questions
Is Jensen Huang under FBI investigation?
Donald Trump has said the FBI is looking into the matter, according to the BBC. The FBI declined to comment, and the scope and timing of any probe have not been confirmed.
Has China responded to the claims?
Beijing has rejected the claims. Its foreign ministry said the allegations were groundless and meant to smear China, as reported by the BBC.
Did Nvidiau0026#039;s shares fall after the news?
Nvidiau0026#039;s share price fell by about 4% during trading on Monday. The BBC reported that this wiped about $250bn off the companyu0026#039;s value.
Sources
- BBC News: Trump says FBI investigating Nvidia boss's affair with alleged Chinese spy
- The Guardian: Silicon Valley and Trump rally behind Nvidia CEO after his affair with alleged Chinese spy
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
