FBI Opens Probe Into Nvidia CEO Affair With Alleged Chinese Spy

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the romantic relationship between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and an alleged Chinese intelligence asset. President Donald Trump confirmed the probe on Monday while speaking to reporters at the White House.

Trump said he called Huang on Monday to assess the chief executive's state of mind following reports that the US government believed Huang had been targeted by Beijing. The president stated he asked Huang if he knew the woman was a spy. Huang replied that he had no idea, a claim Trump said he believes.

The revelation caused Nvidia shares to drop by more than 4 percent on Monday. The decline erased approximately $250 billion, or £190 billion, from the company's market value. Nvidia is currently the world's second most valuable company, trailing only Apple.

US intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, worked for Beijing. She is not related to Jensen Huang. According to a New York Times report, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a memo to top Washington officials last spring warning of the relationship.

Beijing rejected the claims. The foreign ministry described the allegations as entirely groundless and speculative, stating they were intended to smear and malign China.

Nvidia commissioned an independent investigation into the affair. The company stated it has no reason to believe its secrets or national security interests were compromised. The firm declined to comment further when contacted.

A proposed class action lawsuit filed in California on Monday accuses Huang and Nvidia of defrauding shareholders. The suit alleges the company concealed Huang's ties to the suspected spy and lied to media outlets about the relationship.

Huang admitted on Monday that he was unfaithful to his wife. He apologized for hurting her and their children. He said he is committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America's national security. He pledged to cooperate with the company's internal investigation.

Huang has been asked to appear before several Congressional committees for a closed-door briefing next week. A letter requested by the committees asks him to discuss Nvidia's security protocols against foreign adversary espionage. It specifically references his interactions with Alice Huang, a managing director at Singaporean firm Megaspeed.

Megaspeed has had dealings with Nvidia. Its office in Singapore's central business district appeared operational on Tuesday. Staff members directed media queries to the company's PR team after refusing entry to reporters.

The affair has heightened tensions in the US-China AI race. Washington treats Nvidia's exports to Beijing as a national security issue. The H200, Nvidia's second most advanced semiconductor, had previously been restricted from the Chinese market. The Trump administration allowed conditional sales of the H200 to China in January.

Nvidia's most advanced AI semiconductors, including the GB200 Blackwell super chip, remain blocked from the Chinese market. Huang has historically opposed restricting sales to China, arguing it would help roll out US-powered AI globally. Workers at Nvidia's Santa Clara headquarters reported business as usual on Monday despite the intense scrutiny.