In short
- US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the FBI is investigating the relationship between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and Alice Huang, a woman US intelligence officials reportedly believe was a Chinese spy.
- Nvidia’s share price fell by more than 4% on Monday, knocking about $250bn (£190bn) off the company’s market value.
- Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was managing director of Singapore-based Megaspeed, a company that has had dealings with Nvidia.
- Jensen Huang and Nvidia were sued in a proposed class action lawsuit in California on Monday accusing them of defrauding shareholders by concealing his ties to the suspected spy.
- China’s foreign ministry said the allegations were entirely groundless and intended to smear and malign China.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the FBI is investigating the relationship between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and Alice Huang, a woman US intelligence officials reportedly believe was a Chinese spy. Trump said he phoned Jensen Huang, who told him he had no idea she was a spy.
What did Trump say about the FBI investigation?
Trump told reporters at the White House that he asked the Nvidia chief directly about the woman. “I asked him that question, ‘Did you have any idea she was a spy?’ He said ‘I had no idea she was a spy’ and I really believe him,” Trump said. The president said he had been informed about the relationship “over a period of time” but did not say when. The FBI declined to comment when contacted by the BBC, and Trump gave no details of the investigation or when it began.
How has Nvidia responded?
Nvidia said it had commissioned an independent investigation into the affair and had no reason to believe that its secrets or national security had been compromised. Jensen Huang said he was “committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security” and would cooperate with the inquiry. He has acknowledged being “unfaithful” to his wife and apologised for hurting her and their children.
Who is Alice Huang?
US intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was a spy for Beijing, according to a New York Times report. She is not related to Jensen Huang. The newspaper reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a memo to senior officials in Washington last spring warning that the Nvidia chief was in a close relationship with a Chinese spy. Alice Huang was managing director of Megaspeed, a Singapore-based company that has had dealings with Nvidia. Megaspeed’s office in Singapore’s central business district was staffed on Tuesday; the BBC was refused entry and the company did not comment when contacted.
What has Beijing said?
China’s foreign ministry said the allegations were “entirely groundless, speculative and intended to smear and malign China”.
How much did Nvidia’s shares fall?
Nvidia is the world’s second most valuable company after Apple and designs the computer chips at the centre of AI technology. The disclosures knocked about $250bn (£190bn) off its market value on Monday, when the share price fell by more than 4%. Washington treats Nvidia’s exports to Beijing as a national security matter. In a separate case, France accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guards of a cyber-attack.
What has Trump said about Xi Jinping?
Trump said he was “sure” that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would ask him about the case when they next meet. The two leaders have exchanged warm words at a White House state dinner.
Is Nvidia facing legal action?
Jensen Huang and Nvidia were sued on Monday in a proposed class action lawsuit in California accusing them of defrauding shareholders by concealing his ties to the suspected spy. The suit alleges the company lied to the media about the relationship with Alice Huang, “who is suspected of seeking to help smuggle Nvidia products to China”. Huang has also been asked to appear at a closed-door briefing for several congressional committees next week. A letter described Alice Huang as “a publicly reported People’s Republic of China (PRC) intelligence asset” and said the session would cover Nvidia’s security protocols against foreign espionage.
Frequently asked questions
Is the FBI investigating Nvidia chief Jensen Huang?
US President Donald Trump said the FBI was looking into the issue, but he did not elaborate on the investigation or say when it was launched. The FBI declined to comment.
Who is Alice Huang?
Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was managing director of the Singapore-based company Megaspeed and is not related to Jensen Huang. US intelligence officials reportedly believe she was a spy for Beijing.
How much did Nvidia’s shares fall?
Nvidia’s share price fell by more than 4% on Monday, reducing the company’s market value by about $250bn (£190bn). Nvidia is the world’s second most valuable company after Apple.
What has China said about the allegations?
China’s foreign ministry said the claims were entirely groundless and speculative, and were intended to smear and malign China.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Circuit Chip — Lenharth Systems / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)