WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump stepped in to defend Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang on Sunday, praising the semiconductor titan as an honorable leader while the Silicon Valley giant scrambles to examine whether its founder fell into a foreign espionage trap.
"I have not spoken to him about it," Trump told reporters on Sunday. "I just know he's a fine person, but you never know what is going on. I hope everything's fine."
The defense came hours after Nvidia confirmed it is investigating whether Huang became the target of a foreign intelligence operation. The inquiry centers on allegations that Huang maintained a close personal relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who funneled proprietary information directly to officials in Beijing. Trump brushed off immediate panic, asserting that Huang had "done an amazing job for our country" and deserved a fair hearing before critics rush to judgment.
"I think he probably has an excuse for it," Trump said. "You have to hear it."
Nvidia confirmed its internal probe on Sunday following detailed allegations that Chinese intelligence operatives sought leverage against the world's most valuable chipmaker through personal ties. The company did not disclose the woman's identity or how long the suspected compromise lasted. Yet the stakes run straight into national security—Nvidia's artificial intelligence processors sit squarely at the center of US export restrictions and the geopolitical tech standoff between Washington and Beijing.
Trump signaled that the brewing espionage scandal will not immediately isolate Huang from federal circles. When reporters asked if the Nvidia executive would join his official delegation to Asia next week, Trump gave an unhesitating endorsement. "I don't know, but I'd certainly take him," Trump said.