FBI reviewing Nvidia CEO's affair with alleged Chinese spy

· Tech · United States · China

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the FBI is examining Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang's extramarital relationship with a woman identified in reports as a suspected Chinese spy, and that Huang told him he had no idea she was a spy. Nvidia's board has opened an investigation into whether Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort; the company's shares fell as much as about 8.8%, at one point erasing close to $400 billion in market value. Huang and Nvidia were also sued in a proposed class action accusing them of concealing his ties to the woman. Lawmakers from both parties demanded answers, with the House Democratic leader calling for tighter China chip restrictions. Trump and Elon Musk publicly backed Huang, while Beijing's Global Times dismissed the spy claim.

Why it matters：The probe puts the leader of the world's most valuable chipmaker at the centre of a US-China espionage scare, with potential consequences for AI supply chains, export controls and the wider stock market.

Key points

  • Nvidia shares fell as much as 8.8% before the broader market rallied, with the S&P 500 closing higher.
  • Huang pulled out of scheduled appearances at Anthropic and ElevenLabs events.
  • Prediction markets priced low odds of Huang leaving the company near term.

Sources (original reporting)

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