A senior Republican U.S. senator has demanded that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang step down. He argues that Huang's conduct clearly threatened U.S. national security.
Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, who sits on the Senate Banking Committee, raised Huang's affair controversy in an interview with local media on the 10th (local time). "There is far too great a chance it could be exploited for blackmail," he said. He added, "I think he should step down given that he is handling sensitive technology like Nvidia's chips."
Cramer assumed that the woman might not be a Chinese spy. Even so, he argued that the mere possibility she is a spy is sufficient grounds for resignation. His logic is that not knowing what else may have happened is itself a security threat.
The woman at the center of the controversy is businesswoman Alice Huang. Last month, reports emerged that U.S. officials had concluded she was an operative of Chinese intelligence. Alice Huang is linked to Singapore data center company MegaSpeed. She is suspected of helping Nvidia's advanced chips flow into China.
The U.S. Congress is pushing three bills to block China from acquiring advanced chips. The "AI Overwatch Act" would significantly increase Congress's control authority over exports of advanced AI chips abroad. The "Chip Security Act" would mandate tracking of the location and usage of exported chips. The "MATCH Act" would encourage allies to join export controls on chipmaking equipment to China.
Authority to review these bills rests with the Senate Banking Committee, to which Cramer belongs. The bills could affect Nvidia's exports to China. They are currently included in the Senate's amendment package to the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The controversy appears to have raised the likelihood of their inclusion in the NDAA.
This is not the first call for his resignation. Several hours earlier, Larry Kudlow, a former director of the White House National Economic Council (NEC), also said on his Fox Business program, "Huang should step down right now." Former director Kudlow described Huang's resignation as a "common-sense step."
On the 8th, Nvidia's board announced it would conduct an independent investigation into allegations that Chinese intelligence targeted Huang in an operation. The investigation will be overseen by a committee of independent outside directors. An outside independent legal counsel team will also assist.
Cramer assessed this by saying, "The investigation itself is good, but it is far from enough on its own."
Huang reportedly went to work as usual the previous day at the company's headquarters in Santa Clara, California. He presided over the regular morning meeting with senior executives. He reportedly apologized to employees at the start of the meeting, mentioning his private life issue. He then moved straight on to work and the day's main agenda without taking questions.