Trump says Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told him he did not know the woman linked to him was a spy

China stands to gain from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's alleged affair with a possible foreign intelligence agent, according to Christopher Johnson. Johnson, who spent 20 years in the U.S. intelligence community focusing on China, now runs his own consulting firm, China Strategies Group.

Johnson suggests there are two possible motivations behind the operation. The first is to place someone physically close to Huang in order to access his electronic equipment, phones, and computers. The second possibility is a broader influence operation aimed at encouraging Huang to use his access to President Trump to prevent new export controls that would limit Nvidia sales to China.

Johnson notes that while China's public rhetoric emphasizes their progress in AI, they remain concerned about the U.S. control over the export of advanced chips. He also points out that Chinese intelligence operations have historically used access agents, such as recruiting someone to have an intimate relationship with a U.S. target to gain influence.

Lawmakers should ask questions about the process inside the Trump administration for handling the issue, such as the role of the Department of Justice's National Security Division, the FBI, and the CIA's counterintelligence function. They should also inquire about Huang's awareness of the person's affiliation with Chinese intelligence and concerns about potential diversion of Nvidia chips to Chinese companies.

The fact that President Trump was briefed about the affair roughly a year before public revelations but chose not to take action raises questions. Johnson suggests that the president might have believed there was insufficient evidence to warrant action. However, he acknowledges that with increased scrutiny, the situation may evolve, and Huang might receive support from the administration.