US President Donald Trump has said that the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) is investigating the relationship between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and an alleged Chinese spy.
Trump said he spoke with Jensen Huang by phone on Monday. This conversation occurred after reports emerged that the US suspected China had targeted Huang as part of an espionage campaign.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “I asked him if he knew the woman was a spy. He said he had no idea. I trust him.”
China, meanwhile, has completely rejected these allegations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that these claims are completely baseless, based on speculation, and intended to tarnish China’s image.
Nvidia has launched an independent investigation into the matter. The company stated that it has no reason to believe that its business secrets or national security information have been compromised. This case involves a woman named Alice Huang, who is being described as an alleged Chinese spy.
Notably, Nvidia is the second most valuable company in the world, behind Apple. Nvidia designs computer chips, which are crucial for artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Reports of this controversy also impacted the company’s shares. On Monday, Nvidia shares fell by more than 4%, reducing the company’s market value by approximately $250 billion (approximately £190 billion).
Trump later stated at the White House that the FBI was investigating the matter. However, he did not clarify when the investigation began or what aspects it covered. When contacted by the BBC, the FBI declined to comment on the matter.
According to a New York Times report, US intelligence officials believe that Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, spied for Beijing. However, he has no family connection to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.