President Donald Trump has publicly defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after the technology executive acknowledged an affair with Alice Huang, a customer executive accused of having connections to Chinese intelligence.
Trump said he personally spoke with the billionaire technology leader on Monday, adding that Huang insisted he had no knowledge of the woman’s alleged intelligence ties.
The president also expressed confidence in Huang’s account, potentially strengthening an already close relationship between the White House and one of America’s most influential technology executives.
Trump Says Huang Denied Knowing About Alleged Spy Connections
Speaking to reporters during a White House news conference, Trump confirmed that he had discussed the controversy directly with the Nvidia chief.
“I did speak to him today,” Trump told reporters at a news conference on Monday. “And he he said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy. … I really believe him.”
However, Trump acknowledged that he had not been aware of the intelligence allegations when he invited Huang to accompany him on a trip to China earlier this year.
When asked when he first learned about concerns surrounding Alice Huang, Trump was unable to provide a specific date.
“Oh, I’d have to check,” Trump said in remarks to journalists in the White House briefing room. “But this has been going on. Well, I’d certainly check with the intelligence people. It could have been mentioned. Certainly, it didn’t make much of an impact on me.”
The president’s comments have drawn attention to the relationship between the administration and Huang, particularly as Washington continues to navigate its increasingly complicated technology competition with Beijing.
President Praises Nvidia Boss Amid Growing Controversy
Trump made little effort to conceal his support for Huang, describing the Nvidia founder as someone he knows personally and respects.
“I just know Jensen very well,” Trump said.
“I just think he’s a very honorable man.”
The relationship between the two has strengthened since Trump’s reelection. Huang has regularly appeared alongside the president, while Nvidia has supported the administration’s approach to artificial intelligence development and reduced regulatory restrictions.
Furthermore, Nvidia contributed $25 million toward Trump’s White House ballroom project, another indication of the company’s close ties to the administration.
However, the controversy arrives at a particularly sensitive moment for the chipmaker, which has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global artificial intelligence boom.
Nvidia’s advanced processors remain central to the development of AI systems, helping drive major gains across American financial markets and retirement portfolios.
Despite its strong position, the company’s shares dropped more than 4 percent on Monday as the controversy continued to attract attention.
China Rejects Allegations of Intelligence Operation
Meanwhile, Beijing has pushed back against reports suggesting that Alice Huang was connected to Chinese intelligence and had targeted the Nvidia chief.
China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations on Monday, describing them as unsupported claims intended to damage the country’s reputation.
“The ‘Chinese spy’ allegation is purely unsubstantiated and directed at smearing China,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters.
Trump, for his part, indicated that he was unlikely to raise the matter directly when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen next week.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Xi could potentially bring up the controversy during their discussions.
The allegations carry broader implications because Washington has spent years tightening restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductor technology to China.
Nvidia Launches Independent Investigation Into CEO’s Affair
The controversy intensified over the weekend when Jensen Huang acknowledged having an affair with Alice Huang, an executive associated with Singapore-based technology company Megaspeed, which is also an Nvidia customer.
Following his admission on Sunday, Nvidia’s board announced that it would initiate an independent investigation into the matter.
Huang established Nvidia in the 1990s and transformed it into one of the world’s most influential technology companies. The company subsequently confirmed that he intended to remain in his leadership position.
However, the investigation comes amid wider questions about corporate responsibility, executive conduct and potential national security concerns.
The New York Times previously reported in October on connections between Jensen Huang and Alice Huang, also reporting that Trump had received a briefing about the matter but had chosen not to intervene.
Separately, American officials have previously raised concerns about Megaspeed, suspecting that the company may have served as an intermediary for shipping Nvidia chips to China in ways that circumvented U.S. export controls.
The Commerce Department did not respond to a request for comment.
Singapore’s government also previously rejected a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that its officials had separately investigated Alice Huang’s alleged connections to China. Meanwhile, it remains unclear when she first met Jensen Huang.
Chinese Media Focuses on Personal Conduct Rather Than Espionage Claims
Interestingly, coverage of the controversy inside China has taken a somewhat different direction.
Chinese news outlets and social media accounts have discussed allegations of Huang’s infidelity, but many have largely avoided examining Alice Huang’s alleged connections to China’s Ministry of State Security or the potential national security implications.
An editorial published by state-owned Jimu News questioned why Huang’s alleged personal conduct should become an issue for Nvidia employees.
“If Huang cheated, he wronged his wife and children — what does this have to do with his employees?”
However, the editorial also highlighted the broader responsibilities that come with leading a globally influential corporation.
“At a company as large and internationally influential as Nvidia, Huang’s private conduct has never been just a private matter.”
As Nvidia moves forward with its independent investigation, the controversy raises questions extending well beyond the personal life of its chief executive. The company’s global influence, its relationship with Washington and the continuing U.S.-China technology rivalry have made the allegations particularly consequential.
For now, Trump has made his position clear: he believes Huang’s explanation. Whether the investigation ultimately supports that confidence remains to be seen.
