Trump's close ties to Nvidia's Huang scrutinized after foreign intelligence concerns

US President Donald Trump's close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is under scrutiny after the company's board launched a probe following a New York Times report linking Huang to a Chinese businesswoman suspected of passing information to Beijing. Senator Chris Coons called for an investigation, and House Democrats demanded a halt to advanced AI chip exports to China.

US President Donald Trump's close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has come under renewed scrutiny after the company's board launched an investigation into whether Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The probe follows a New York Times report that Huang had a close relationship with Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, whom US intelligence officials believe passed information to the Chinese government. Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, called for an investigation into whether national security was compromised. Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee wrote to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, demanding a halt to exports of advanced AI chips to China and seeking answers on whether top officials were aware of intelligence linking Alice Huang to Chinese efforts to obtain Nvidia chips. Trump was briefed on the intelligence and chose not to act, according to the Times. Trump said the FBI was looking into the matter and that he believed Huang's denial. China's foreign ministry called the spy accusations groundless. The article notes that Huang's relationship with Trump has coincided with favorable policy developments for Nvidia, including the administration backing off export restrictions and allowing sales of H200 processors to China with a 25% fee.