WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said the FBI is investigating Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang over his relationship with a suspected Chinese spy, though the president expects the executive will be in "good shape."
"I hope there’s no problem," Trump told reporters Nov. 9 at the White House. "I know the FBI is looking into it, in terms of something else. I think that he’ll be in good shape."
Nvidia’s board has launched an investigation of Huang after he admitted to a relationship with a Singapore-based tech executive suspected by U.S. intelligence agencies of being a Chinese intelligence agent. The relationship raised national-security concerns because Nvidia makes some of the world’s most powerful computer chips.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries,
who is in line to become speaker when Democrats take control of Congress in January, said lawmakers need more information from the administration about reports that Huang was targeted by foreign intelligence. Jeffries said lawmakers could restrict sales of computer chips to China through a defense policy bill because of the dispute.
"Clearly Congress needs more information," Jeffries, D-New York, told reporters at the Capitol. "We're going to need a full briefing specifically as it relates to the Nvidia situation so we can all get to the bottom of what has happened."
Trump said he doesn’t expect to raise the issue when he meets next week with Chinese President Xi Jinping, but said Xi may ask him about the situation.
"I’m sure President Xi will ask me about it," Trump said. "I just know Jensen very well. I know he’s a very honorable man. He built a great company, an American company. I think he’s a very honorable guy. I feel very confident that he’ll be in good shape."
Trump, who gave Huang the National Medal of Science last month, said he called Huang earlier in the day to ask how he was doing.
“He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy," Trump said. "I asked him that question, ‘Did you have any idea that she was a spy?’ He said, ‘I had no idea that she was a spy.’ I really believe him."
Trump said Huang was suffering because of his family, including "his wife, who he loves."
"He is definitely suffering," Trump said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says FBI probing Nvidia's Jensen Huang, hopes there's 'no problem'
