US lawmakers request testimony from Nvidia co-founder amid national-security concerns
Senate and House committees have asked Jensen Huang, Nvidia's former chief executive, to appear for questioning after reports of an affair with a person alleged to be a Chinese intelligence asset, prompting a market decline and security scrutiny.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott announced on X that he is seeking testimony from Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in December, citing recent reports that raise concerns about national security and the protection of sensitive U.S. technology. The request follows a series of investigations into Huang's personal conduct, including an admitted extramarital affair with Alice Huang, a former senior executive at Singapore-based data-center firm Megaspeed, who U.S. intelligence has alleged is an asset of China’s Ministry of State Security. Beijing has denied the allegation.
The Senate request joins a scheduled closed-door interview on December 1 by three House committees, which may be issued under subpoena. Nvidia’s board, which is searching for a permanent chief executive, has named CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO while the board chairmanship has been taken over by Harvey Jones, former Synopsys chief executive.
The scandal has coincided with a sharp decline in Nvidia’s market value, wiping roughly half a trillion dollars from its valuation. Dan Ives of Yorkville Ives described the episode as “a dark day for Nvidia and the U.S. tech industry,” but said the board’s actions aim to “rip off the band-aide and take Nvidia into its next chapter without him.”
President Donald Trump, who has publicly supported Huang, suggested former Apple CEO Tim Cook could succeed Huang, stating “A Legend replaces a Legend!” on his Truth Social platform. When asked whether Huang should have resigned, Trump said the answer depends on whether the woman involved was a spy.
Singapore’s Home Ministry confirmed it barred Alice Huang, a Chinese national, from re-entering the country in February for providing inaccurate information to investigators, though she was not charged with espionage. The ministry said it has repeatedly sought information from U.S. authorities about Megaspeed’s activities, receiving limited assistance.
Malaysia also announced an investigation into a Megaspeed subsidiary over possible diversion of advanced AI chips. Lawmakers, including Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, have called for clarification on what the administration knew about Huang’s ties to the suspected spy ahead of President Trump’s upcoming trip to China.