Wirtschaftspolitik: US-Finanzminister fordert neuen Nvidia-Chef von außerhalb

Finanzminister Scott Bessent of the United States has called for a radical change in leadership at Nvidia, following the resignation of its CEO Jensen Huang. Bessent stated to Fox News that the board should look for a new chief outside the company, given the issues that have arisen within Nvidia. He demanded answers from the board and external lawyers of the company within ten days to ensure compliance with US export restrictions.

Bessent also questioned whether Nvidia might have facilitated illegal chip sales to boost revenue and profits, and whether the company had ignored red flags from suspicious shell companies, or who was aware of this. Bessent does not believe new laws are needed to tighten export controls, stating that existing rules should be enforced.

Huang stepped down on Thursday after several extramarital affairs were revealed, with a particular focus on his relationship with Alice Huang, suspected of spying for China. Alice Huang worked for Megaspeed in Singapore, which is under investigation for alleged violations of US export restrictions. Megaspeed stated that Alice Huang left the company in August 2025 and no longer plays a role there.

The company denied any wrongdoing and said it had hired external lawyers for an internal investigation. It remains unclear whether Megaspeed violated US export restrictions. China denies the espionage allegations. Pressure mounts on Trade Minister Lutnick. The scandal also increases pressure on US Trade Minister Howard Lutnick, as multiple US departments have supported the inclusion of Megaspeed on an export sanction list, though the Commerce Department has not acted.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen called for Lutnick's removal, citing his help in facilitating an exclusive fundraising dinner for Trump supporters at Mar-a-Lago, where Huang argued against planned export restrictions. Lutnick reportedly donated $25 million to Trump's White House ballroom project in October last year without being listed on the official donor list.

CNN reported, based on its own research, that some Trump advisors discussed Lutnick's possible removal. Lutnick allegedly helped Nvidia obtain less stringent export regulations for foreign data centers, whose operators have business relationships with his former investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, now run by his sons. While the newspaper did not find evidence that these business relationships influenced Lutnick's political decisions, the Commerce Department stated that Lutnick complies with his ethical standards.