Jensen Huang's Late-Night Calls With President Trump Come as Nvidia's China AI Chip Shipments Fall 44% in the First Half of 2026. Here's Why His Access Matters.
Key PointsChinese technology giants have reportedly ordered over $35 billion worth of Nvidia chips, but supply constraints threaten delivery schedules.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has reportedly engaged in late-night conversations with former President Donald Trump regarding manufacturing, jobs, and national security matters. Huang also attended a state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2026. However, his access to Trump may not guarantee Nvidia's success in China.
China's AI chip shipments from Nvidia fell 44% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, as the country's demand surpassed the company's production capacity. U.S. export restrictions and production limitations are hindering Nvidia's ability to meet these orders. Despite this, Huawei holds a significant 28% market share in Chinese data center AI accelerator shipments, narrowing Nvidia's lead.
The company warned that its restricted access to China is benefiting competitors and could make it challenging to regain lost market share even if export restrictions ease. While Nvidia's revenue surged 106% year-over-year, the company's third-quarter guidance assumes no data center compute revenue from China. Regaining China's data center customers before competitors establish a larger presence will be the critical challenge for Nvidia.
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