Donald Trump‘s close relationship with former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has taken an unexpected turn amid the executive’s growing scandal.
The president initially defended Huang and urged him to fight for his job before he resigned amid his affair admissions. One involved a woman U.S. officials suspected of spying for China.
Trump has since floated Apple’s Tim Cook as a possible replacement.
The scandal has forced Trump to adjust his plans and now has two of his Cabinet members on opposite sides.
Stephen A. Smith, interviewing the president this week for Smith’s “Straight Shooter” podcast, pressed Trump with questions that demanded more than his usual praise and reassurances.
Trump was discussing Jensen Huang, who had recently resigned as Nvidia’s CEO. Smith then asked whether the billionaire should have stepped down amid allegations involving a woman suspected of spying for China.
He said he didn’t know and continued defending Huang as a “fine man” who is “going through hell.”
Huang was set to join Trump on his four-day Asia trip, announced in May. But his resignation as Nvidia CEO on Thursday has changed those plans.
Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week. The meeting will take place during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Shenzhen, China. Trump will now be accompanied by Tesla CEO and X chairman Elon Musk.
However, Trump is not expected to discuss the allegations involving Alice Huang with Xi, according to CNBC.
One senior administration official said, “it’s probably not something that we’re going to read the Chinese in on at this moment.” Another official added, “I don’t expect the president to raise it, the Alice Huang issue.”
The theories intensified over why Trump may not address the scandal, with some saying he practices the motto “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
“He dare not, China could embarrass him,” said a second individual.
A few like-minded folks claimed Trump defended Huang because Trump “thinks a man in a position of power being unfaithful to his wife” is acceptable.
Another person suspected: “He was briefed on the spying intelligence before the flight and Lutnick stalled the diversion crackdown. Easiest items to leave off the agenda.”
May also is when the twice-divorced president learned aboard Air Force One that U.S. intelligence linked Huang to a woman suspected of spying for China, per the New York Times.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered the warning shortly before Huang joined the president.
The Nvidia scandal has also brought other Cabinet members into the spotlight.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will testify before the Senate Banking Committee on Dec. 10 amid scrutiny over AI chip exports.
Republicans want answers about delays in restricting Megaspeed International, a company once led by Alice Huang, the woman suspected of spying for China and having an affair with Nvidia’s Huang.
U.S. officials suspect Megaspeed diverted Nvidia chips to China in violation of export restrictions.
GOP Sen. Jim Banks, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, told Fox News Thursday that Lutnick “used loopholes” to allow chip sales despite Trump’s orders to block them.
