Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday that Congress must have a full accounting of President Donald Trump's defense of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and called on lawmakers to quickly approve new restrictions on U.S. chip exports to China.
Schumer cited reports that Trump was briefed on Huang's affair with a suspected Chinese spy a year ago and did nothing. "What a dereliction of duty. He's supposed to protect America, not China, not his friends. Trump has been busy trying to defend Jensen Huang when he ought to be defending our national security," Schumer said. "We need a full accounting for Trump's failure to address foreign espionage in the American tech industry."
Nvidia's board launched a probe after the New York Times said Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who U.S. intelligence officials believe shared information with Beijing. Trump said Monday he had spoken to Huang, who told him he had no idea the woman was a spy. Trump added he was "amazed" by the allegations and that the FBI was now looking into the issue.
"One of our most important companies that is involved in national security, and the CEO might be having an affair with a Chinese spy, and Trump did nothing about it," Schumer said. He noted that Trump invited Huang to join him on a visit to Beijing and accepted a $25 million donation from the company for his White House ballroom.
Schumer also pressed for answers on "Nvidia's influence campaign and how it affected the Trump administration's national security decisions, including the loosening — the loosening — of key export controls."
"This alarming situation makes it clear that Congress must act now to pass critical bipartisan legislation ... to cut off China's access to advanced American technology before it's too late," Schumer said. A Senate version of the annual defense bill contains provisions giving Congress more authority over AI chips going to China, prodding U.S. allies to restrict sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China, and requiring businesses to track their AI chips abroad to combat smuggling. A growing number of lawmakers want the restrictions included as part of the defense bill.
Lawmakers also want a briefing with Huang. Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego said, "Nvidia has been asking permission to sell advanced chips to China. We need to know how much the Chinese spy influenced CEO Jensen's decision." The White House and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Huang is one of Trump's closest allies in Silicon Valley, and the relationship between the two dates to at least 2025.
