FBI scrutiny: Trump confirms probe into Nvidia chief

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining an alleged romantic relationship between Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang and a woman identified by U.S. intelligence as a Chinese government agent. President Donald Trump disclosed the inquiry on Monday during a White House briefing. He stated that he believes the investigation will resolve without major consequences for the executive.

Trump said he spoke with Huang on the day of the announcement to check on the CEO’s well-being. The President reported that Huang told him he did not know the woman was a spy. Trump characterized Huang as an honorable man. He added that he expected the FBI to find that Huang is in good shape.

Nvidia announced on Sunday that it is conducting an independent review. The company stated it is looking into reports that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. Huang posted an open letter on the company website acknowledging the affair. He apologized to his wife and the firm. He said he supports the investigation and will cooperate fully to protect the company and national security.

The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence determined the woman was gathering information for Beijing. The report identified her as Alice Huang, a former executive at Megaspeed International, a Singapore-based data center company. Megaspeed’s website highlights its partnership with Nvidia. The Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs and Megaspeed did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday, when many offices were closed for a holiday.

Congressional leaders are weighing a formal inquiry. Senator Mark Warner and Representative Hakeem Jeffries said on Monday they are interested in investigating the matter further. Jeffries noted that the issue arose during a closed-door session with the CIA director and the Director of National Intelligence. That session was primarily focused on Iran. Jeffries said lawmakers need a full briefing to determine the implications for American national security.

China denied the allegations on Monday. Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the spy claim unsubstantiated. She described the reports as smears against China. Beijing had previously dismissed the New York Times report by noting that Alice Huang ran a company that faced claims of illicitly shipping advanced Nvidia chips to China last year.

The news affected the stock market. Nvidia shares dropped more than 4% in trading Monday. The stock has lost roughly 11% of its value since the previous Wednesday. Nvidia is one of the most valuable publicly traded companies in the world. Its chips power many leading artificial intelligence systems.

Huang has influenced U.S. policy on artificial intelligence and chip exports. He has argued for a lighter regulatory touch on AI. He lobbied Washington to loosen limits on chip sales to China. President Trump approved the sale of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China this year. Nvidia reported in August that it sold a small amount of those chips due to restrictions imposed by the Chinese government.

The H200 model is not Nvidia’s most advanced product, but it remains a sophisticated processor. Huang previously lobbied for approval to sell the less advanced H20 chips, which were designed to meet U.S. export rules. In a June interview with the Associated Press, Huang said national security is the top concern for technology. He added that policymakers must be specific about risks before setting export controls.

Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen next week for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Trump was noncommittal about raising the Nvidia issue with Xi. He said he was sure Xi would ask about it. He expressed confidence in his personal knowledge of Huang.

FBI counterintelligence investigations often take years and do not always lead to criminal charges. These probes examine efforts by foreign powers to steal technology or cultivate relationships with influential figures. China has been viewed as a persistent counterintelligence threat by U.S. administrations of both parties. Chinese state media suggested the reports were aimed at destabilizing U.S.-China relations as ties begin to improve.