Trump says Nvidia CEO told him he 'didn't know' he was involved with alleged Chinese spy
Nvidia has announced an investigation into CEO Jensen Huang.
President Donald Trump said the head of Nvidia told him in a phone call on Monday that he "didn't know" he was involved with an alleged Chinese spy.
Trump's comments come a day after the tech giant announced an investigation into Jensen Huang following reporting that the Nvidia CEO had an affair with an alleged Chinese government agent, identified as Alice Huang, a top executive at Singapore-based data company Megaspeed.
Trump said he spoke to Jensen Huang on Monday and asked him about it.
"He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy," the president told reporters during a press briefing.
"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,' and I really believe him," Trump continued.
Trump dodged multiple questions about when he was first briefed on the matter. At one point, the president said the FBI is investigating.
"I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he'll be in good shape," Trump said, without elaborating.
Trump's comments came the same day a lawsuit seeking class action status was filed in federal court against Nvidia and Jensen Huang, alleging that the company "made false and misleading statements" regarding the CEO's interactions with Alice Huang. The complaint was filed on behalf of an Nvidia shareholder.
On Sunday, Nvidia said that its board launched an independent investigation "in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort."
The statement added that a "committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the investigation."
Huang "fully supports the review" and will cooperate with it, the Nvidia statement further said.
"While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised, the Board's inquiry will examine all available information," according to the statement.
"The Board prioritizes U.S. national and economic security, which is paramount to the interests of NVIDIA and its shareholders," the statement further said.
"The Board has confidence in Jensen and his leadership team," according to the statement.
The New York Times reported late last month that Huang, who runs the world's largest computer chip manufacturer, was targeted by a Chinese espionage plot centered around a woman they identified as Alice Huang, whom U.S. intelligence officials determined was funneling information to Beijing and had developed a "close relationship" with Jensen Huang.
The Chinese government has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless and purely slanderous smears against China."
Neither Alice Huang nor her employer, Megaspeed International, responded to ABC News' request for comment after the New York Times story broke.
"Jensen's interactions with Ms. Huang are not unusual or unexpected" and are part of Jensen Huang's job, an Nvidia spokesperson told ABC News at the time.
However, Nvidia on Sunday shared with ABC News an internal message Jensen Huang sent to employees, in which he said he was "unfaithful" to his wife.
"My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry," the message said, in part. It did not name Alice Huang nor any other person.
Addressing Nvidia staff, partners and shareholders, Huang went on to say, "my responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence."
"I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America's national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American," Huang's message said.
Following the New York Times report, congressional Republicans on the Select Committee on China sent a letter to Jensen Huang requesting that he appear for a closed-door briefing Nov. 18 concerning his relationship with Alice Huang.
"Recent reports raise significant national security concerns regarding the PRC's access to sensitive U.S. technology and information," the letter said, in part. It is not known if Huang will appear before the committee.
"Today's news will not slow NVIDIA. Jensen is committed to continuing to lead NVIDIA as CEO without interruption," an NVIDIA spokesperson told ABC News Sunday.
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