Nvidia Board Investigates Huang Amid China Scrutiny

Nvidia is facing a leadership and governance crisis after reports that CEO Jensen Huang had a relationship with Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive whom U.S. authorities reportedly suspected of links to Chinese intelligence, and a separate alleged affair with an Nvidia executive who reported to him. Nvidia’s board is weighing Huang’s future and has opened an independent investigation, while saying it has no reason to believe trade secrets or national-security information were compromised; Nvidia denies direct dealings with Alice Huang and says it complies with export laws. Investigative reports allege that companies linked to Alice Huang and Singapore-based Megaspeed routed at least 240,000 restricted Nvidia H100 and H200 chips to China since 2023, valued at an estimated $7.5 billion. The allegations have intensified congressional scrutiny: Sen. Kevin Cramer has called for Huang to resign, House Republicans have sought a closed-door briefing and threatened to subpoena him, and Democratic senators are seeking records about China-related exports. President Donald Trump has defended Huang, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has reportedly delayed proposed restrictions and Megaspeed’s potential addition to the Entity List. Lawmakers are considering expanded export oversight and other limits on China’s access to advanced chips and chipmaking equipment, as the controversy raises questions about Nvidia’s leadership and influence over export-control policy.