Corruption & Accountability · Report · File No. 261109-981
Trump calls Nvidia CEO 'honorable guy' as House chairs press on alleged spy tie
Trump defended Jensen Huang, his close ally, after reports of Huang's relationship with an accused Chinese spy. Three House Republican chairs want Huang to brief them on Nov. 18 about national security risks.
Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work
President Trump on Monday called Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang an "honorable guy." That followed reports that Huang had an intimate relationship with Alice Huang, who is accused of being a Chinese spy. Trump told reporters he had not spoken to Huang about the accusations 1.
The allegations come from New York Times reporting on a 2025 U.S. intelligence report. The report alleged that Alice Huang illegally smuggled advanced AI chips into China last year while developing a "close relationship" with the Nvidia chief 1. Those are allegations. The Hill's account does not say anyone has been convicted 1.
What Trump said
Asked whether he wished he had acted on the intelligence sooner, Trump said Huang "probably has an excuse" 1. He also said he had not heard that Huang had done anything wrong 1.
I think, you know, I think he’s an honorable guy. I think he probably has an excuse … he’s done an amazing job for our country.
Trump is due to travel to Asia next week. He said he does not know whether Huang will join him, but that he would take him 1. Huang already went with the president on his trip to Beijing. Nvidia is one of the only U.S. companies allowed to sell certain AI chips to China 1.
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Huang's admission and the probes
Bloomberg reported Sunday that Huang told his company in a memo that he was unfaithful to his wife. This came after an Nvidia spokesperson first dismissed the report 1. Nvidia then said it would open an independent investigation into its CEO 1.
Three House Republican chairs are also pressing. They are Brian Mast of Foreign Affairs, John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Rick Crawford of Intelligence 2. Their letter, dated Nov. 4 and made public Nov. 5, asks Huang to attend a voluntary, closed-door joint briefing on Nov. 18 2. They want to know about his dealings with Alice Huang, an executive at the firm Megaspeed, and about Nvidia's safeguards against foreign spying 2.
It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which U.S. national security has been placed at risk.
Nvidia has pushed back. A spokesman said Huang's interactions with Ms. Huang "are not unusual or unexpected," and the company said it has seen no evidence its chips were smuggled into China 2. Nvidia has not said whether Huang will attend 2.
Why it matters
That matters because the question is no longer only personal. Congress wants to know whether sensitive U.S. technology reached China, and the president is vouching for the executive at the center of it. His comment that "so does everybody else" deal with such people is likely to draw scrutiny 1.
Next up is Nov. 18, when the chairs want answers. Democrats take the House in January, and a Nvidia–China inquiry could become part of the oversight they have promised. This story did not include Democratic comment on Trump's remarks.
The Record
- Three House Republican chairs made public a letter asking Huang for a closed-door briefing on Nov. 18 2.
- Nvidia announced an independent investigation of its CEO, and Huang reportedly admitted in a memo that he was unfaithful to his wife 1.
- Trump called Huang an "honorable guy" and said he would take him on next week's Asia trip 1.
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Sources
- The Hill, “Trump: Nvidia CEO an 'honorable guy'” (2026-11-09). thehill.com/policy/technology/6207489-donald-trump-jensen-hu
- Implicator.ai, “GOP leaders of three House committees ask Jensen Huang for closed-door briefing” (2026-11-05). implicator.ai/gop-leaders-three-house-committees-ask-jensen-
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
More from the files
House Republican chairs ask Nvidia's Huang for Nov. 18 briefing on alleged spy contact
Three House Republican chairmen want Nvidia's CEO to explain his ties to an executive U.S. intelligence reportedly believes passed information to Beijing. The reports do not say the relationship was romantic or that he knew of any spying.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits relationship with suspected Chinese spy; board opens probe
Huang told employees he owes them an apology, and Nvidia's board will investigate. Lawmakers in both parties want answers, and some are asking what the Trump administration knew.
Top House Republican condemns China's 10-year sentence for Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong
Rep. John Moolenaar, who leads the House Select Committee on China, called Wong a "hero" and demanded his release after a Hong Kong court handed down a second national security sentence.
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