Donald Trump described former NVIDIA chief executive Jensen Huang as “brilliant,” but said Huang was right to resign if allegations that he had an affair with a Chinese spy are confirmed.
Huang left the company on Friday, 33 years after co-founding NVIDIA and guiding it to become the most valuable company in the United States.
His departure followed a New York Times report alleging that the 63-year-old had an affair with Kimberly Powell, a subordinate.
Trump discussed Huang during an interview with Stephen A. Smith on Thursday in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, describing conversations they had held since the allegations emerged.
“It’s sad. He’s a tremendous talent. He did something nobody else did. He has a chip that’s so complex, so brilliant, you can’t copy it. What he’s done is incredible. He built an incredible company,” Trump said.
When Smith directly asked whether Huang had been right to step down, Trump paused before offering his response.
“The big thing was, was the woman a spy? If the woman was a spy, yes. If the woman was not a spy, perhaps it would be different,” Trump said.
Trump also offered words of support for Huang, saying the former executive was “going through hell right now” but would have opportunities ahead.
Donald Trump called former NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang “brilliant” but said Huang was right to resign if allegations that he had an affair with a Chinese spy are confirmed, during an interview with Stephen A. Smith, pictured right.
Huang stepped down on Thursday following reports of multiple affairs, including one involving a subordinate and another involving an alleged Chinese spy. Trump said Huang had done a “fantastic job” at NVIDIA.
“Somehow, he’ll end on his feet. I always thought of him as a fine man. He feels most badly about his wife and family,” Trump said.
The interview followed a dinner Trump attended with Smith, Bill Maher and Kid Rock several weeks earlier.
Trump again suggested that former Apple CEO Tim Cook should succeed Huang as NVIDIA’s chief executive.
Huang’s resignation came one day after The New York Times reported that he had allegedly had an affair with subordinate Kimberly Powell.
A separate report last week alleged that Huang had an affair with Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based data company Megaspeed. She is not related to the former NVIDIA chief and has reportedly been accused of being a Chinese spy.
The two allegations shook the $4 trillion company, sent its stock price sharply lower and prompted questions about whether Huang had been deceived by the alleged spy.
Reports said Trump had been briefed on the allegations involving the alleged spy before Huang was permitted to board a plane, but allowed him to travel.
The allegations also led NVIDIA to open an internal investigation before Huang’s departure. It remains unclear how his resignation will affect that inquiry.
Lawmakers are seeking more information about the case, particularly the allegations involving the alleged spy.
Although Huang has maintained close ties to Trump, Republican lawmakers have expressed interest in subpoenaing him as part of their investigation.
“Jensen Huang himself has been a pretty bold, some might even say arrogant promoter, sort of dismissing our concerns about China having access to these most advanced chips,” Republican Senator Kevin Cramer told CNBC on Thursday morning.
“And I do not take that lightly. I would be happy to support a subpoena.”
Republican lawmakers Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; and Rick Crawford, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, have also backed a possible subpoena for Huang.
The three lawmakers sent Huang a letter last week asking him to appear for a “joint, closed-door briefing” about the allegations involving the alleged Chinese spy.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Huang was expected to cooperate with lawmakers and meet them privately, although his resignation could affect that arrangement.
This is a developing story.