WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump stepped in to defend Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang on Monday, insisting the semiconductor titan had no idea that a woman with whom he had an extramarital affair was an alleged Chinese intelligence operative.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is scrutinizing the matter. He dismissed suspicions that the tech billionaire knowingly compromised sensitive corporate or national secrets.
"I asked him that question, 'Did you have any idea that she was a spy?'" Trump said, recounting a phone call he placed to Huang earlier Monday to check on his wellbeing. "He said, 'I had no idea that she was a spy,' and I really believe him."
Trump described the Taiwan-born executive as an "amazing guy" who is now "suffering greatly" over the fallout on his family and marriage. Huang acknowledged the relationship in an internal memo sent to Nvidia employees on Sunday, apologizing to both his family and company staff for the lapse.
Presidential backing arrived as national security circles raised questions about intelligence risks at Nvidia, the world's preeminent artificial intelligence chipmaker. Alice Huang, a Chinese executive accused of steering sensitive information directly to Beijing, reportedly cultivated ties with the Nvidia boss as Washington tightened export controls on cutting-edge processors.
Yet Trump offered no clear timeline on when American intelligence agencies first alerted him to the security threat. Huang traveled with Trump on an official delegation to China in May, months before the scandal erupted.
"No, I didn't hear about it then. But a lot of people have heard about it," Trump said. Huang also secured invitations to top-level diplomatic events, including the White House state dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.
Asked directly when he received the intelligence briefing linking Huang to the suspected operative, Trump sidestepped.
"Not too long ago," Trump said. "We'll look into it. I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think he'll be in good shape."
FBI officials have declined to specify the precise statutory scope of their review or whether federal investigators intend to summon Huang for formal sworn depositions in the coming weeks.