WASHINGTON, United States – US President Donald Trump said on Monday, November 9, that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was looking into allegations involving Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and a Chinese businesswoman suspected by US intelligence officials of working for Beijing.
Trump made the comments during a White House news conference after confirming that he had spoken directly with Huang earlier in the day. The president said he asked the Nvidia chief whether he knew the woman was allegedly a Chinese intelligence agent, and Huang told him he had no knowledge of her suspected activities.
“He said, ‘I had no idea that she was a spy,’ and I really believe him,” Trump told reporters.
Trump added that he knew the FBI was looking into the matter but did not explain the precise scope of its inquiry or identify any specific investigative steps. No public FBI statement confirming the nature or status of an investigation was identified in the available reporting.
Trump Defends Huang After Speaking With Him
Trump described Huang as an honourable businessman and expressed confidence that he would emerge from the controversy in good shape.
The president said he had contacted Huang to ask how he was coping with the allegations and their impact on his family. He also said he had been aware of reports concerning the matter for some time but had learned about the issue relatively recently.
The comments followed Trump’s earlier public expressions of support for Huang, whom he has described as an important figure in the American technology industry.
Nvidia Board Opens Independent Investigation
Nvidia announced on November 8 that its board of directors had initiated an independent investigation after reports that Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.
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The company said a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent legal counsel, would oversee the inquiry.
The board said it had no reason to believe that US national security or Nvidia’s confidential information had been compromised, but that its investigation would examine all available information. It also confirmed that Huang supported the review and had committed to cooperating.
Huang separately issued a message to Nvidia employees acknowledging that he had been unfaithful to his wife and apologising to his family and colleagues. He said he accepted responsibility for his actions and would cooperate fully with the board’s investigation into the national security concerns raised in reports.
Allegations Raise Questions About Nvidia’s China Business
The controversy centres on a Chinese businesswoman identified in media reporting as Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed International.
US intelligence officials reportedly suspect that she gathered information for Beijing. Reports have also raised questions about Megaspeed’s business relationship with Nvidia and the movement of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China.
The allegations have prompted wider scrutiny of whether commercial relationships involving Nvidia could have exposed sensitive information or created risks for US technology-export controls. However, the available public information does not establish that Huang knowingly assisted an intelligence operation or that Nvidia’s technology or confidential information was compromised.
Beijing Rejects Chinese Espionage Allegations
China rejected the allegations on November 9, describing the claims that the woman was a Chinese spy as unsubstantiated and an attempt to smear the country.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the statement during a regular press conference in Beijing in response to questions about the investigation involving Nvidia’s chief executive.
The denial came as the controversy raised broader concerns about US-China technology competition, particularly restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports and the security of companies involved in supplying artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen the following week. Asked whether he would raise the allegations during the meeting, Trump said he did not expect to do so, although he left open the possibility.
The FBI’s reported interest, Nvidia’s independent corporate investigation and China’s rejection of the espionage allegations leave several central questions unresolved, including whether sensitive information was accessed and whether any national security breach occurred.
Primary Sources: NVIDIA Board of Directors — Statement From NVIDIA Board of Directors, November 8, 2026. Confirms the independent investigation, its oversight structure and the board’s statement that it has no reason to believe company secrets or national security were compromised. NVIDIA / Jensen Huang — A Message to Our Company, November 8, 2026. Huang acknowledges his personal conduct and confirms his commitment to cooperate with the board’s investigation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China — Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s Regular Press Conference, November 9, 2026. Records Beijing’s official response to the espionage allegations. White House presidential remarks — Trump’s November 9 news conference transcript is available through Roll Call’s transcript archive. Records Trump’s comments about his conversation with Huang and the FBI.
