WASHINGTON, Nov 9 – U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that the FBI is examining allegations involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and his reported relationship with a woman suspected of working for Chinese intelligence, raising fresh questions about potential national security risks and China’s access to advanced American technology.
Speaking at a White House briefing on Monday, November 9, 2026, Trump said the FBI was looking into the matter but indicated that he did not believe Huang had knowingly become involved in activities that could threaten U.S. interests. His comments have drawn considerable attention because of Nvidia’s central role in the global artificial intelligence industry and Huang’s close relationship with the Trump administration.
The allegations have placed one of America’s most influential technology executives under growing scrutiny. Huang has acknowledged having an extramarital affair and issued a public apology to his wife and Nvidia. However, the wider controversy concerns whether the woman involved had connections to the Chinese government and whether any sensitive corporate or technological information could have been exposed.
Trump also revealed that he had personally contacted Huang after the allegations emerged, an unusual development given the sensitivity of an FBI counterintelligence investigation. The president’s public comments have added another dimension to a case involving American technology, international intelligence concerns and increasingly complicated relations between Washington and Beijing.
Trump Confirms FBI Investigation as Huang Issues Public Statement
During his White House appearance, Trump said he understood that the FBI was examining the situation and expressed confidence that Huang would be able to address the concerns surrounding him.
“I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he’ll be in good shape,” Trump told reporters.
The president also disclosed that he had spoken directly with the Nvidia chief executive earlier that day to check on his well-being. According to Trump, Huang told him he had no knowledge that the woman at the center of the allegations was allegedly connected to Chinese intelligence.
“I did speak to him today just to see if he’s feeling all right, how you’re doing,” Trump said. “He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy.”
Huang, who is among the world’s wealthiest business leaders, has acknowledged the affair and addressed the controversy through an open letter published on Nvidia’s official website. In the statement, he apologized to his wife and the company while emphasizing his willingness to assist investigators.
The Nvidia chief executive also rejected any suggestion that he would withhold cooperation from authorities, stressing his commitment to American national security and the protection of the company.
“I support the investigation and will cooperate fully. I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America’s national security,” Huang wrote.
His statement came as Nvidia announced on Sunday that it had launched an independent investigation into reports that its chief executive had become the target of a foreign intelligence operation.
The company said the review would examine allegations surrounding a possible intelligence effort directed at Huang. The announcement followed reporting by The New York Times, which said U.S. intelligence agencies had determined that the woman involved in the relationship was collecting information for Beijing.
The allegations have also attracted attention from senior members of Congress. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries both indicated on Monday that they wanted further information about the circumstances surrounding the case.
Jeffries said the Nvidia issue had been raised during a closed-door meeting involving the CIA director and the Director of National Intelligence. The session was primarily focused on Iran, but lawmakers also discussed the developing controversy involving the technology company.
Jeffries said Congress would require a comprehensive briefing to establish what had happened and determine whether any national security interests had been affected.
He emphasized that lawmakers needed to understand the potential consequences for the United States, particularly given Nvidia’s importance to advanced computing and artificial intelligence development.
FBI counterintelligence investigations commonly examine suspected attempts by foreign governments to obtain sensitive American information, gain access to advanced technologies or establish covert relationships with influential individuals.
Such inquiries can involve extensive intelligence assessments and may continue for years. An investigation does not necessarily mean that criminal charges will follow, as authorities must establish whether any laws were violated and whether evidence supports prosecution.
China has remained a major counterintelligence concern for successive U.S. administrations from both political parties, particularly over allegations involving intellectual property theft, technology transfers and efforts to obtain sensitive commercial information.
China Rejects Espionage Allegations as Trump Prepares to Meet Xi Jinping
Beijing has firmly rejected claims that Chinese intelligence attempted to establish a relationship with Huang to obtain sensitive information.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the allegations on Monday, describing them as unsupported accusations directed against China.
“The so-called Chinese spy allegation is unsubstantiated. It is nothing but smears against China,” Guo said.
The Chinese government had previously rejected reporting about Huang’s alleged relationship with a Chinese citizen identified as Alice Huang. According to The New York Times, she had developed a close relationship with the Nvidia executive and previously held an executive position at a Singapore-based data center company.
The company, identified as Megaspeed International, had reportedly faced allegations that it was involved in the unauthorized shipment of advanced Nvidia computer chips into China last year. Its website prominently highlights its business relationship with Nvidia.
The allegations have emerged at a particularly sensitive moment in U.S.-China relations. Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in Shenzhen, China, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Asked whether he intended to discuss the controversy with Xi, Trump initially indicated that he did not consider it necessary, although he left open the possibility that the issue could arise during their discussions.
“No, I don’t think so,” Trump said. “I mean, maybe. I’m sure President Xi will ask me about it. I just know Jensen very well. I just think he’s a very honorable man.”
Trump’s comments reflect the close relationship he has developed with Huang, whose company has become increasingly important to American economic and technological interests.
The president has repeatedly engaged with the Nvidia chief executive on questions involving artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and restrictions on technology exports to China.
Huang has argued that American companies should be allowed to compete internationally while maintaining appropriate safeguards to protect national security. He has also urged Washington to avoid unnecessarily restrictive export policies that could weaken the position of American technology companies in global markets.
In an exclusive interview in June, Huang emphasized that national security should remain the primary consideration when governments establish technology policies. However, he argued that export restrictions should be based on clearly identified risks rather than broad assumptions.
The current investigation could complicate these discussions, particularly because Nvidia’s technology is closely connected to the strategic competition between the United States and China.
The company produces specialized graphics processing units that are widely used to train and operate advanced artificial intelligence systems. Its customers include some of the world’s largest technology companies and AI developers.
Washington has repeatedly introduced restrictions intended to prevent Beijing from obtaining the most advanced American semiconductor technology. These controls are designed to limit China’s ability to develop sophisticated computing systems that could have military or strategic applications.
Huang has spent considerable time lobbying U.S. officials to reconsider certain restrictions, arguing that American companies should retain access to international markets rather than allow foreign competitors to fill the gap.
The Trump administration approved sales of Nvidia’s H200 processors to China this year, although it remains unclear how extensively Chinese companies will be permitted to purchase them.
The H200 is not Nvidia’s most advanced chip, but it remains a powerful processor capable of supporting demanding artificial intelligence workloads. Nvidia disclosed in an August regulatory filing that sales to China had remained limited, partly because of restrictions imposed by Beijing itself.
Earlier, Huang had also pushed for permission to sell the company’s less advanced H20 processors, which were developed to comply with U.S. export restrictions.
Nvidia Shares Fall as Attention Shifts to Singapore Business Connections
The controversy has created uncertainty for Nvidia at a time when the company occupies an important position in the global technology market.
Nvidia is one of the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies, competing with major corporations such as Apple and Microsoft. Its processors have become essential infrastructure for companies developing generative AI, advanced computing platforms and other emerging technologies.
The allegations involving Huang have therefore raised questions extending beyond his personal relationship. Investors and policymakers are particularly concerned about whether any confidential information, corporate strategy or sensitive technology could have been accessed by individuals connected to foreign intelligence.
Nvidia shares fell more than 4% during Monday’s trading session. The decline added to losses that had already reduced the company’s market value by approximately 11% since the previous Wednesday.
The New York Times report also brought renewed attention to Megaspeed International, the Singapore-based data center company previously associated with Alice Huang.
The company’s business relationship with Nvidia has attracted scrutiny because of its advertised partnership with the American semiconductor manufacturer and the earlier allegations involving shipments of advanced processors into China.
However, the precise nature of any connection between the reported espionage allegations, Megaspeed International and Nvidia’s internal operations has not been publicly established.
Many businesses and government offices in Singapore were closed on Monday because of a public holiday. Consequently, Megaspeed International and Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Technology and national security specialists have cautioned against reaching conclusions before investigators establish the relevant facts.
George Chen, a partner and chair of digital practice at Washington-based consultancy The Asia Group, said the investigation would need to establish whether Huang knew about any alleged intelligence activities and whether sensitive information had been compromised.
“The key questions are whether he was aware of any espionage activities and whether any confidential or strategically sensitive information was compromised,” Chen said.
He added that such questions required evidence rather than speculation.
The reaction inside China has also been notable. Chinese media coverage has largely concentrated on Huang’s admission of the affair, while state-controlled outlets have generally repeated Beijing’s official rejection of the espionage allegations.
Some Chinese commentators have suggested that the reporting could undermine efforts to improve relations between Washington and Beijing ahead of Trump’s expected meeting with Xi.
The state-owned Global Times published a similar argument, suggesting that outside forces were attempting to disrupt improving bilateral relations.
“Whenever China-US relations begin to improve, there are often those firing shots from the shadows,” the newspaper said.
For Nvidia, the immediate challenge is managing the growing scrutiny while maintaining confidence among investors, customers and government officials. The company’s independent review and the FBI’s investigation could provide further information about the allegations and whether they involve any actual breach of national security.
For now, neither the reported intelligence connection nor any potential transfer of confidential information has been publicly established. The central questions remain whether Huang was aware of the woman’s alleged activities, whether Nvidia’s business operations were exposed to foreign intelligence and whether investigators will uncover evidence of wrongdoing.
The developments also place additional attention on the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, where semiconductor technology and access to advanced artificial intelligence systems are already major points of contention between the world’s two largest economies.