FBI Opens Probe Into Nvidia CEO's Relationship With Alleged Chinese Agent
President Trump says he spoke with Jensen Huang, who has acknowledged the affair and launched an internal review.
By Alessia Romano ·
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is actively examining the personal relationship between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and a woman identified by U.S. intelligence as an alleged agent for the Chinese government. President Donald Trump disclosed the counterintelligence probe on Monday at a White House briefing. He stated that while the FBI is looking into the matter, he believes Huang will emerge from the process in good standing.
Trump said he spoke directly with Huang on Monday to check on the executive’s well-being. During that conversation, Trump reported that Huang said he had no knowledge that the woman in question was a spy. The President’s direct involvement in a counterintelligence matter signals the high stakes of the situation, particularly given the strategic importance of Nvidia’s chips for artificial intelligence development.
Huang has publicly addressed the incident in an open letter posted on Nvidia’s website. He apologized to his wife and the company, stating that he supports the investigation and will cooperate fully. He emphasized his commitment to protecting Nvidia and supporting American national security. The company announced Sunday that it is conducting its own independent investigation into reports that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort.
Congressional leaders are also weighing in on the matter. Senators Mark Warner and Representative Hakeem Jeffries said Monday they are interested in investigating the issue further. Jeffries noted that the Nvidia situation came up during a closed-door session with the CIA director and the Director of National Intelligence. He said the group needs a full briefing to understand the implications for U.S. national security.
China has officially denied the allegations. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun called the spy allegations unsubstantiated and a smear against China. Beijing previously dismissed reports that Huang had developed a close relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen who ran a company facing claims of illicitly shipping advanced Nvidia chips into China. The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence determined the woman was gathering information for Beijing.
The affair involves Alice Huang, described by The New York Times as a former executive of 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. Many offices in Singapore were closed for a holiday on Monday.
The news has impacted Nvidia’s market value. Shares dropped more than 4 percent in trading on Monday. The stock has lost roughly 11 percent of its value since last Wednesday. George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group, a Washington-based consultancy, said the key questions are whether Huang knew about espionage activities and if sensitive information was compromised. He added that these questions require evidence rather than speculation.
Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week in Shenzhen for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. He was noncommittal about whether he would raise the issue with Xi, suggesting that Xi might ask about it. Trump described Huang as an honorable man. China’s state-owned Global Times commented that whenever relations between the two nations improve, there are often actors firing shots from the shadows to destabilize the dynamic.
