Trump downplays FBI probe into Nvidia chief's affair with alleged spy
asserted
Trump → downplay → spy
'I think that he'll be in good shape,' Trump says at White House briefing
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the FBI is investigating Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's affair with an alleged Chinese government agent, but said he doesn't think the executive who has helped to develop artificial intelligence has a reason to worry.
"I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he'll be in good shape," Trump said at a White House briefing.
asserted
Trump → think → briefing
The sudden emergence of Huang's infidelity has rocked the political class and America's tech sector, creating new concerns about whether China has been able to access the cutting-edge chips designed by Nvidia that are powering the development of artificial intelligence.
asserted
that → rock → intelligence
Trump suggested the extraordinary step of directly involving himself in a counterintelligence investigation, a sign of his friendly relationship with Huang and the possible geopolitical stakes.
uncertain
Trump → suggest → Huang
"I did speak to him today just to see if he's feeling all right, how you're doing," Trump said.
asserted
Trump → speak → him
"He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy."
asserted
person → say → question
Meanwhile, Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday that Congress needs "more information," about what happened at Nvidia, adding that there are "real concerns that need to be addressed."
Jeffries said a classified briefing for congressional leaders on Monday with CIA director John Ratcliffe and director of national intelligence Jay Clayton briefly discussed Nvidia but mostly focused on Iran.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks at an event in London, on Oct. 14. (Kwiyeon Ha/The Associated Press)
asserted
Huang → say → Oct.
No plan to confront Xi
Trump is slated to meet next week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Shenzhen, China, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, but he was noncommittal about bringing up the situation with Xi.
asserted
he → confront → Xi
China denied on Monday it engaged in an attempt to ensnare Huang, saying the spying allegations were unsubstantiated and a smear campaign against Beijing.
asserted
allegations → deny → Beijing
Beijing had earlier had dismissed a New York Times report saying Huang had developed a close relationship with a Chinese citizen named Alice Huang, who ran a company that last year faced claims it was illicitly shipping advanced Nvidia computer chips into China.
uncertain
it → dismiss → China
The Times said she was a former executive of a Singapore-based data centre company called Megaspeed International, whose website prominently touts its partnership with Nvidia, and that U.S. intelligence had determined she was gathering information for Beijing.
asserted
she → say → Beijing
The Nvidia logo is displayed at the Computex Taipei expo in Taipei, Taiwan, on June 3.
asserted
logo → display → June
Huang has acknowledged he had been intimate with a business executive, issuing an apology to his wife and to the company in an open letter posted on Nvidia's website.
asserted
he → acknowledge → website
He did not name the woman.
asserted
He → name → woman
Nvidia announced Sunday it was conducting an independent investigation into reports that Huang was the "target of a foreign intelligence effort.
asserted
Huang → announce → effort
"I support the investigation and will cooperate fully.
asserted
I → support → investigation
I love our country and our company.
asserted
I → love → country
I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America's national security," Huang said in his letter.
asserted
Huang → commit → letter
The investigation is raising questions about the future of the company, which became one of the world's most valuable firms by providing technology that has powered the AI boom.
asserted
that → raise → boom
Nvidia stock has shed roughly 11 per cent of its value since last Wednesday.
asserted
stock → shed → Wednesday
Huang, famous for wearing a black leather jacket, has become synonymous with Nvidia since he co-founded it more than 30 years ago.
asserted
he → wear → it
He has an enormous risk appetite that transformed a company that made chips for gaming into the central player in AI.
asserted
that → have → AI
But with Huang's affair and the investigations, the company faces uncertainty over a possible successor and scrutiny on issues of national security from members of Congress.
asserted
company → face → Congress
Many offices in Singapore were closed on Monday for a holiday.
asserted
offices → close → holiday
Megaspeed and the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
asserted
Megaspeed → reply → comment
Nvidia is one of the world's most valuable publicly traded companies, alongside Apple and Microsoft.
asserted
Nvidia → trade → Apple
Its sales of computer chips to China have at times been targeted by U.S. regulators seeking to limit Beijing's access to such technology.
asserted
sales → target → technology
Nvidia's shares slide as chip giant probes
asserted
giant → slide → ?
Huang
Nvidia probes whether CEO spied on by foreign intelligence
"The key questions are whether he was aware of any espionage activities and whether any confidential or strategically sensitive information was compromised," said George Chen, a partner and chair of digital practice at The Asia Group, a Washington-based consultancy.
asserted
Chen → probe → Group
"Those questions require evidence rather than speculation," he added in a text message to reporters.
asserted
he → require → reporters
Chinese media have largely focused on Huang admitting to the affair and state media outlets have mainly echoed the official government line.
asserted
outlets → focus → line
Some have said the New York Times report was aimed at destabilizing U.S.-China relations.
asserted
report → say → relations
"Whenever China-U.S. relations begin to improve, there are often those firing shots from the shadows," the state-owned Global Times said.
asserted
Times → begin → shadows
The Aporia
