President Donald Trump has defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after the executive admitted to being unfaithful to his wife with a woman reportedly suspected by US intelligence agencies of being a Chinese spy. Trump described Huang as an honorable person and suggested he might have an explanation for the affair, even as Nvidia’s board prepares to investigate whether the CEO was targeted as part of a foreign intelligence operation, according to The Hill.
Speaking to reporters, Trump was asked whether he regretted not acting earlier on intelligence concerning Huang’s alleged relationship with the woman. The president responded by expressing support for the Nvidia chief, saying he believed Huang was an honorable man and that people should hear his explanation before passing judgment.
“I think he’s an honorable guy,” Trump said. “I think he probably has an excuse for it. You have to hear it.” Trump also confirmed that he had not spoken directly with Huang about the allegations. However, he praised the executive’s contributions to the United States, describing his work as “amazing” and expressing his support for him remaining Nvidia’s CEO.
Nvidia investigates alleged Chinese spy connection
Huang addressed the controversy in a memo sent to Nvidia employees, acknowledging that he had been “unfaithful” to his wife and that his actions had hurt his family. He also revealed that the company’s board was launching an investigation into whether a foreign intelligence agency had targeted him.
The controversy first attracted attention after The New York Times reported that US intelligence agencies had concluded Huang was the target of an alleged Chinese spy operation. According to the report, Alice Huang, a Chinese business executive and Nvidia chip buyer who is not related to the CEO, had developed a close personal relationship with him while allegedly passing information to Beijing.
The woman was reportedly recruited to obtain information from the Nvidia chief and potentially influence the availability of more advanced American chips in China. The alleged operation raised concerns about whether sensitive business or national security information could have been exposed through the relationship.
Huang previously described his connection with Alice Huang as a “normal” business relationship. However, his latest admission that he had been unfaithful to his wife has added another dimension to the controversy, particularly as the company examines whether the relationship was part of a broader intelligence effort.
Nvidia’s board said that it “has no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised.” Nevertheless, it confirmed that its investigation would examine the available information and added that Huang was cooperating with the inquiry.
The investigation comes at a particularly sensitive time for the company, given Huang’s growing influence in Washington and the ongoing debate over American technology exports to China. His position has placed him at the center of an important national security debate, as the US government attempts to limit China’s access to advanced computing chips while protecting America’s position in the artificial intelligence industry, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Published: Nov 9, 2026 05:15 pm