The departure comes amid a complex political and corporate crisis. US President Donald Trump reported speaking with Huang on Tuesday, urging the executive to fight to retain his position. Trump described Huang as an “honourable person” and a “tremendous talent,” stating on a podcast that Huang was “going through hell” but would ultimately “end up on his feet.” Trump acknowledged that Huang’s primary concern was the impact of the scandal on his wife and family. Despite this support, Huang stepped down after reports emerged about an alleged affair with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman whom US intelligence officials suspected of passing information to Beijing, and a separate relationship with Nvidia executive Kimberly Powell. Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in an internal message, apologizing to his family, colleagues, and shareholders.
Following the announcement of Huang’s resignation, President Trump publicly proposed that former Apple CEO Tim Cook should take over the role. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “NOW THAT Nvidia CEO JENSEN HUANG, who has done a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place – TIM COOK of Apple. A Legend replaces a Legend!” Trump reiterated this view on a podcast, praising Cook’s leadership at Apple and suggesting he would be a strong candidate for Nvidia. Neither Apple nor Nvidia immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the suggestion. Cook transitioned to an executive chairman role at Apple on September 1, stepping down as CEO.
The controversy places significant uncertainty over Nvidia’s leadership during a critical period for the global AI industry. Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, transformed the company from a graphics-chip maker into the dominant supplier of processors for artificial intelligence systems. His close relationship with the Trump administration, which included accompanying the President on Air Force One during a visit to China and attending a White House state dinner, had made him a central figure in US-China tech diplomacy. The board’s independent investigation into potential espionage links concluded that there was no reason to believe Nvidia’s trade secrets or national security had been compromised, but the allegations triggered federal scrutiny. China has rejected the espionage claims against the alleged businesswoman. Nvidia has also appointed Harvey C Jones as its first-ever board chair to help oversee the transition.
The company is now in the process of evaluating both internal and external candidates for the permanent CEO position. While Trump’s endorsement of Cook highlights the high-profile nature of the search, the final decision rests with the board. The interim leadership under Kress will manage operations during the transition, a period that marks a pivotal moment for Nvidia and the broader AI sector.
