Trump says FBI investigating Nvidia CEO Huang over affair with alleged C…

Trump confirms FBI probe after White House call

Speaking to reporters in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room on November 9, Trump said he spoke by phone with Huang earlier that day. “I asked him that question, ‘Did you have any idea she was a spy?’ He said ‘I had no idea she was a spy’ and I really believe him,” Trump said. He described Huang as “an honorable guy” who is “suffering greatly” from the fallout. Trump added the FBI is “looking into it in terms of something else” but did not specify the scope or timing of the probe. The FBI declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.

Congressional committees demand closed‑door briefing

Huang has been requested to appear next week for a joint closed‑door briefing before several Congressional committees. In a letter, the chairmen said they are seeking testimony “on Nvidia’s security protocols against foreign adversary espionage and your interactions with a publicly reported People’s Republic of China (PRC) intelligence asset: Megaspeed executive Alice Huang.” It is unclear whether Huang will appear. Nvidia and the committees have not publicly confirmed attendance.

Intelligence warnings and export‑control fallout

According to a New York Times report cited by the BBC, U.S. Intelligence officials believe Alice Huang was a spy for Beijing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly sent a memo to top Washington officials last spring warning that the Nvidia CEO was in a close relationship with a Chinese intelligence asset. Megaspeed has had dealings with Nvidia, the company at the center of global AI development through its advanced microchips.

The scandal has reignited bipartisan pressure for stricter chip export controls. Senate Democrats Richard Blumenthal, Elizabeth Warren, and Chris Coons, along with Republican Jim Banks, have called for comprehensive investigations and immediate closure of export‑control loopholes. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he “strongly supports” the stricter provisions already advanced in the Senate’s annual defense policy bill and vowed to work for their inclusion in the final version. “We’re going to need a full briefing specifically as it relates to the Nvidia issue, so we can all get to the bottom of what happened,” Jeffries told reporters.

Nvidia board investigation and Huang’s response

Nvidia’s board has commissioned an independent investigation into the affair. The company said it has no reason to believe its secrets or national security were compromised. Huang admitted he was “unfaithful” to his wife and apologized for hurting her and their children. In a statement Monday, he said he was “committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security” and would cooperate with the company’s investigation.

China denies allegations

China’s foreign ministry rejected claims that Huang was targeted, calling the allegations “entirely groundless, speculative and intended to smear and malign China.” Trump said he was “sure” President Xi Jinping would “ask me about it” when they next met.

Midterm backdrop sharpens partisan stakes

The controversy arrives one week after Democrats seized control of Congress in midterm elections, campaigning on promises to investigate big corporations and CEOs. Sen. Blumenthal, poised to chair the Intelligence Committee’s investigations arm next year, said the matter is “not just an intelligence issue; it’s also a potential corruption issue,” citing Trump’s public defense of Huang. Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, struck a more cautious tone, saying they are still gathering information. Intelligence committee members Ron Wyden and Mark Warner declined to speculate pending further briefings, with Warner telling Semafor, “We need to hear from the FBI, and they weren’t there today.”

The next trigger will be whether Huang appears for the Congressional briefing next week and what the FBI discloses about the scope and progress of its investigation.