Trump Stands By Nvidia CEO: ‘I Really Believe Him’ on Spy Claims
President Trump on Monday publicly backed Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after reports that the tech executive had an affair with a Chinese businesswoman U.S. intelligence officials suspect was spying for Beijing.
Speaking at a White House press briefing, Trump said he had called Huang earlier in the day simply to check on him.
“I did speak to him today just to see if he’s feeling all right. How you doing? And I asked him about that, and he said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy,” Trump told reporters.
He then recounted the direct question he put to Huang: “Did you have any idea that she was a spy?”
Huang’s reply, according to Trump: “I had no idea that she was a spy.”
Trump added: “And I really believe him.”
The president described Huang as “a very honorable man” and “a very high-quality person,” noting that the Nvidia chief built one of the world’s most valuable companies through American innovation in advanced chips. “I feel very confident that he’ll be in good shape,” Trump said.