U.S. officials first raised concerns last year about Jensen Huang’s relationship with a woman they assessed as working for China’s Ministry of State Security. Trump, according to reporting cited in the account, took no action after that initial briefing. ¹

The issue returned in May as Trump headed to China. Marco Rubio, then serving as secretary of state and national security adviser, briefed the president aboard Air Force One shortly before Huang joined the trip at Trump’s invitation, people familiar with the matter said. It was at least the second such warning in seven months. ²

That account directly conflicts with Trump’s later public version. Asked whether he knew of Huang’s ties to the woman before meeting Xi Jinping, Trump replied: “No, I didn’t hear about it then.” ¹ When pressed on whether earlier intelligence briefings had occurred, he said he would check with intelligence officials, adding: “They may have mentioned it. Certainly, it didn’t have much of an impact on me.” ²

The consequences reach beyond a personal controversy. Nvidia’s advanced chips are central to the U.S.-China race for AI leadership, while Huang has pushed for American companies to compete globally even as he says China should not receive Nvidia’s best products. The disclosures shook the company and hurt its stock, according to the reports. ¹

Trump has since said Huang will not join his next China visit, but he has not backed away from the executive. “I just know Jensen Huang very well,” Trump said. “I just think he’s a very honorable person.” ² Huang acknowledged the relationship on Sunday; Nvidia said it would conduct an independent investigation. ²