President Donald Trump said Monday at the White House that the FBI is investigating the affair between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and a woman alleged to be a Chinese spy. Trump said he had spoken by telephone with Huang earlier that day after accounts that American officials believed the executive had been targeted in a Chinese espionage campaign. He did not elaborate on the nature of the FBI inquiry or say when it had begun.1,3,6
The matter concerns the head of a company at the center of the worldwide development of artificial intelligence through its microchips, a position that has made Nvidia a focus of the AI rivalry between the United States and China. Washington officials treat the company's exports to Beijing as a matter of national security. The disclosures knocked about $250 billion off the value of Nvidia during trading on Monday as the firm's share price fell by about 4%.1
Trump described his call with Huang as a check on his welfare and an opportunity to ask directly about the allegation. "I asked him that question, 'Did you have any idea she was a spy?' He said 'I had no idea she was a spy' and I really believe him," Trump told reporters. He gave a similar account of the exchange in a second description of the call, saying he had called "just to see if he's feeling alright, how you doing, and I asked him about that and he said he absolutely had no idea that the person in question was a spy."1,3
The president spoke sympathetically about Huang and expressed confidence about the outcome of the inquiries. He said he thought Huang was an "honorable guy and I feel very confident that he will be in good shape" after the investigations. "I hope there's no problem, I believe he is suffering greatly," Trump said. He also described Huang as a "fine person," and said Huang should not worry about the FBI looking into the affair.1,2,4,5,7
China rejected the claim that Huang had been targeted. Its foreign ministry said the allegations were "entirely groundless, speculative and intended to smear and malign China." Trump said he was "sure" that Chinese President Xi Jinping would "ask me about it" when they next met.1
Nvidia said it had commissioned an independent investigation into the affair involving Alice Huang, who is alleged to be a Chinese spy. The company said it had no reason to believe that its secrets or national security were compromised.1,7
The woman was identified as Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le. She was managing director of the Singaporean company Megaspeed, which has had dealings with Nvidia.1
The New York Times reported that United States intelligence officials believe Alice Huang was a spy for Beijing. The Times also reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a memo to top officials in Washington last spring warning that the Nvidia boss was in a close relationship with a Chinese spy. Trump, asked repeatedly including by the BBC when he was made aware of the relationship, said he was informed "over a period of time" but was not specific.1
Huang has admitted he was "unfaithful" to his wife and apologized for hurting her and their children. He said on Monday that he was "committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America's national security" and would cooperate with the investigation the company had launched.1
Huang has been requested to appear for a joint closed-door briefing for several congressional committees next week. In a letter, the chairmen of the committees said they were seeking a briefing "on Nvidia's security protocols against foreign adversary espionage and your interactions with a publicly reported People's Republic of China (PRC) intelligence asset: Megaspeed executive Alice Huang."1
It is unclear whether Huang will appear at the briefing. The BBC has contacted Nvidia and the committees. The FBI declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.1
