Rubio Sent Spy Warning on Nvidia CEO Before Trump’s May China Trip
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Nov 8
Rubio Sent Spy Warning on Nvidia CEO Before Trump’s May China Trip
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 8
Summary
A highly classified memo drafted under Marco Rubio this spring warned top Trump administration officials that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was in a close relationship with a Chinese spy, according to people briefed on the matter.
The warning drew on electronic surveillance of Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen and senior executive at a Singapore-based company under investigation for illegally smuggling Nvidia’s advanced AI chips into China.
U.S. officials concluded Alice Huang had been recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security, and Rubio’s memo circulated to officials with high-level clearances before Trump traveled to China in May.
Jensen Huang had remained an influential voice with Trump on AI-chip export policy, arguing against tighter curbs and for selling all but the newest technology to China.
The episode shows senior officials knew of the espionage concerns even as Huang, who was initially left off the executive list for Trump’s China trip, continued to shape debate over U.S. AI controls.