Sen. Wyden claims Trump ‘allegedly knew’ Nvidia CEO had relationship with spy, says officials ‘bent over backwards’ to help company sell advanced chips to shady Chinese companies as he launches investigation

Oregon – Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden is demanding answers from the Trump administration over its decision to allow Nvidia to sell advanced artificial intelligence chips to Chinese companies, raising questions about whether President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick knew the company’s former CEO had a relationship with a woman suspected of spying for China.

Wyden announced the investigation in a post on X, saying he and Rep. Richard Neal were examining why administration officials “bent over backwards” to help Nvidia sell advanced chips to Chinese companies with alleged links to Beijing.

“Trump and Lutnick allegedly knew former NVIDIA CEO, Jensen Huang, had a relationship with a Chinese spy,” Wyden wrote. “We need answers. Now.”

The investigation comes amid a major leadership shake-up at Nvidia after co-founder and longtime CEO Jensen Huang resigned on November 12 following reports about his personal relationship with Alice Huang, a businesswoman whom U.S. intelligence officials reportedly suspected of passing information to the Chinese government. The two are not related.

The investigation was formally announced Thursday by Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, and Neal, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. The lawmakers are asking the Commerce Department to preserve all records connected to Nvidia’s chip sales to Chinese companies, including export license applications, internal investigations and communications involving Huang or company representatives.

At the center of the dispute is the Trump administration’s decision to permit Nvidia to sell certain advanced AI chips to Chinese companies under an arrangement involving a 25% tariff. Under the process described by Wyden and Neal, Nvidia chips manufactured in Taiwan could be imported into the United States for a security review, with the tariff applied before the Commerce Department issued an export license allowing the chips to be shipped to China.

Photo Courtesy – Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) via X | Video PrtScr – https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1965947311718269341/video/1

The lawmakers argue that the administration used Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 in a way that raises serious legal and national security questions. The law gives the president authority to restrict imports considered threats to national security. Wyden and Neal contend that using it to facilitate advanced chip sales to Chinese companies could have the opposite effect.

Their announcement also cited reports that the Commerce Department suspended an investigation into suspected smuggling of certain Nvidia chips into China after the company contacted the department. The senators further noted that Nvidia and Huang had donated at least $26 million to projects associated with Trump, raising additional questions they want examined as part of the inquiry. The allegations surrounding Huang have drawn scrutiny from other lawmakers as well. Reuters reported that members of both parties have called for tighter restrictions on China’s access to advanced AI chips, while House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that support was growing in Congress for limiting those exports. Reuters also reported that Lutnick was facing increased questions over the administration’s oversight of chip sales and that senior White House officials were discussing his future.

Huang’s resignation followed a turbulent week for Nvidia. The company’s board had launched an investigation into whether the former CEO had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. Huang acknowledged an extramarital affair in a message to employees, apologizing to his family and colleagues. Reports later emerged of a separate relationship with an Nvidia executive who reportedly worked under him. Nvidia announced that Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress would serve as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement. The board also appointed longtime director Harvey C. Jones as its first chairman.

However, key questions about the alleged espionage connection remain unresolved. U.S. intelligence officials reportedly suspected Alice Huang of passing information to Beijing, but the allegations have not been conclusively established. The Washington Post reported that U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department had not reached a conclusion on whether she was a spy. China has also denied the accusations.

Wyden and Neal’s investigation now puts the administration’s handling of Nvidia’s China business under renewed congressional scrutiny, with the lawmakers seeking records that could help establish what officials knew about the alleged intelligence concerns and how those concerns factored into decisions to approve advanced chip exports.