November 10, 2026, (Inside AI) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, saying the executive had no knowledge that a woman he had an affair with was an alleged Chinese spy. The remarks came a day after Huang admitted to the relationship in an email to employees, and as the FBI opened a probe into the matter.
Trump told reporters that he spoke with Huang directly. "I did speak to him today ... He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy," Trump said, according to the Associated Press.
The woman, Alice Huang, is a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed and is not related to Jensen Huang. U.S. authorities had investigated her and concluded she was a Chinese intelligence asset passing information to Beijing, according to a report last month by The New York Times.
Nvidia has launched an internal investigation into whether its CEO was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The company confirmed the probe but declined to comment further. The FBI has not publicly commented on the case.
The controversy lands at a delicate moment for Nvidia, which sits at the center of the U.S.-China technology rivalry. The company's chips power most advanced AI systems, and Washington has restricted their export to China. Any suggestion that a foreign intelligence asset had access to the CEO raises questions about corporate security at America's most valuable semiconductor firm.
Jensen Huang, in a Sunday email to Nvidia employees, said he had been unfaithful to his wife and took "full responsibility" for his actions. He did not address the espionage allegations directly. The email marked a rare personal admission from a CEO who has cultivated a carefully managed public image.
Trump's defense of Huang is notable given his administration's hard line on China. The president has repeatedly warned about Chinese espionage, yet he quickly absolved Huang of blame. The remarks suggest the White House views the matter as a personal failing rather than a national security breach.
Legal experts say the case could complicate Nvidia's government relations. The company is already navigating export controls and a sprawling antitrust probe. An FBI investigation involving its CEO adds another layer of scrutiny.
Alice Huang's role at Megaspeed, a cloud computing firm, has not been fully detailed. The company has not responded to requests for comment. It is unclear when the relationship began or how long it lasted.
The FBI's involvement signals the case is being treated seriously. Counterintelligence investigations often take months or years. No charges have been filed.
Nvidia's board has not announced any independent review. Corporate governance experts say boards typically handle such matters privately. The company's shares were little changed in early trading.
For now, the story remains a political and personal drama with national security overtones. It is unclear whether the FBI probe will produce evidence that Huang was compromised. Trump's public support may shield him from immediate political pressure. But the investigation is ongoing, and the full facts are not yet known.
Sofia spent years studying how machines parse human language before pivoting to cover the systems now rewriting it. She reads technical papers the way others read news and looking for what the numbers are actually saying beneath the headlines.
