Top US Govt Official Behind Nvidia CEO’s Dismissal

The resignation of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang marked the end of his 33-year tenure at the company, according to The Washington Post. The triggering event was a memo sent by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to President Donald Trump, expressing concerns over Huang's relationship with a woman suspected to be a Chinese intelligence asset.

This memo, based on a CIA report, saw Rubio "recast its findings in his own more assertive terms," according to a source familiar with the situation. The leaked memo subsequently went public, leading to an internal investigation into potential security risks at Nvidia. Huang admitted to the affair and resigned on Thursday after another allegation surfaced, this time involving a subordinate at Nvidia.

The details of this second affair have not been made public. At the G7 summit in Paris, Rubio avoided addressing his involvement in alerting the White House about Huang's relationship. The dismissal of Huang could now facilitate efforts to include three measures in a major defense bill: restrictions on exporting advanced AI chips to China, a mandate for technology to detect chip smuggling, and a provision limiting China's access to chipmaking equipment.

Despite the circumstances, Trump still publicly refers to Huang as a "legend" who "had done a fantastic job." Huang's troubles started when reports emerged about his relationship with a woman believed to be a Chinese intelligence asset.