Trump Received Intelligence on Nvidia CEO's Ties Before Beijing Trip

The White House received sensitive intelligence regarding the personal connections of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to a woman suspected of spying for China prior to the president's recent trip to Beijing, according to a report published by The New York Times on Tuesday. The report, which cites officials familiar with the matter, indicates that the administration was aware of these ties before Huang officially joined the presidential delegation.

The intelligence, provided in May, detailed a romantic relationship between Huang and a woman whom US intelligence officials concluded was working for China's Ministry of State Security. This timeline contradicts recent public statements made by President Donald Trump, who said on Monday that he had not been aware of the relationship at the time of the visit.

According to the report, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio played a role in preparing a classified intelligence document on the subject. This document was distributed to senior administration officials before the trip to China took place. The New York Times noted that this was at least the second time in a seven month period that the president had been informed about the affair.

Huang's inclusion in the trip came after he was initially excluded from the list of senior business executives invited to accompany the president. He was later added to the delegation at the president's direct invitation, a decision that has drawn scrutiny given the timing of the intelligence disclosures.

During a press conference on Monday, Trump addressed questions about whether he had known about the suspicious ties during the May visit. He replied, "No, I hadn't heard about it then." His comments stand in contrast to the reporting that suggests he had already received information about the matter before the trip began.

The president stated that he had spoken with Huang to ask if the Nvidia CEO knew that the woman in question was suspected of espionage. Trump reported that Huang replied he had not been aware of the allegations. The president expressed confidence in Huang's account, indicating he believed the CEO was unaware of the woman's suspected activities.

The revelation has intensified questions about Huang's influence within the US administration, particularly regarding White House artificial intelligence policy. Nvidia holds a central position in the advanced semiconductor industry, a sector that is at the forefront of the technological competition between the United States and China.

In response to the growing scrutiny, Nvidia announced that it has launched an independent investigation into the matter. The company stated that it had no reason to believe its trade secrets or US national security had been compromised, though it clarified that the investigation would examine all available information.

Financial markets reacted to the news, with Nvidia shares falling more than 4 percent during trading on Monday. The president noted that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also examining the situation while continuing to express his support for Huang.

Beijing has reacted to the developments by rejecting the espionage allegations. Chinese officials described the claims targeting the Nvidia CEO as baseless, adding a diplomatic dimension to the ongoing inquiry.