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Nvidia says Huang will remain CEO as its board investigates. Congressional demands for answers now include a bipartisan call for stronger oversight.
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At a White House briefing on Nov. 9, Trump said the FBI was investigating matters involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and an alleged Chinese spy, while saying he believed Huang did not know of her alleged role. The FBI had not commented to NBC News, and Nvidia’s board had already begun a separate independent inquiry on Nov. 8. The episode is drawing congressional calls for answers and puts governance and national-security scrutiny around the AI chipmaker in focus.
Nvidia’s board announced its independent investigation on Nov. 8 after reports that a foreign intelligence effort had targeted Huang.
NBC News, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that U.S. intelligence agencies had determined Alice Huang was a Chinese spy; the two Huangs are not related.
Trump praised Jensen Huang and signaled for a second consecutive day that he wanted him to remain CEO; Nvidia said Huang would stay in the role.
President Donald Trump said on November 9, 2026, that the FBI was investigating events involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and an alleged Chinese spy. His remarks followed Nvidia’s decision to open an independent inquiry into reported foreign intelligence targeting of its founder. NBC News’s report included no comment from the FBI.
Nvidia’s board announced on Sunday, November 8, that it was initiating an independent investigation after reporting that Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. Huang separately acknowledged that he had been unfaithful to his wife and apologized to Nvidia employees. Nvidia said he would remain chief executive.
NBC News reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter, that U.S. intelligence agencies had determined Alice Huang was a Chinese spy. She is the woman with whom Jensen Huang allegedly had the affair. Despite their shared surname, the two are not related.
At an impromptu White House briefing Monday, Trump said he had called Huang earlier that day “To see if he’s feeling all right.” He recounted Huang’s explanation:
He said I had no idea that she was a spy, and I really, and I really believe him
President Donald Trump, recounting his conversation with Jensen Huang
Trump praised Huang as an “amazing guy” and said he thought Huang would be “in good shape.” It was the second consecutive day the president had indicated he wanted Huang to keep leading Nvidia. Company spokespeople did not immediately respond to NBC’s request for comment after Monday’s remarks.
Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, called Monday for a full briefing. Senators Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, jointly urged Congress to take decisive action on oversight of AI-linked companies.
Warren and Banks said the disclosures made national-security concerns more urgent and raised important questions Nvidia must answer.
Nvidia shares closed down 4.2% on Monday, moving against the broader market. The stock was the worst performer in both the Dow and Nasdaq.
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