A reported call from President Donald Trump urging Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to keep his job came one day before Nvidia’s board accepted his resignation, putting presidential involvement alongside a major U.S. chipmaker’s leadership change.
The New York Times based its account of the Nov. 10 conversation on two people briefed on it. They told the newspaper Trump wanted Huang to keep pressing to remain CEO. The Times said it received no comment from Trump or the White House after seeking a response.
A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says Nvidia’s board accepted Huang’s resignation on Nov. 11, effective that day. The company announced the transition on Nov. 12, naming Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress interim CEO. Kress will remain CFO while directors consider candidates from inside and outside the company. Nvidia did not give a reason for Huang’s departure.
The call came amid reports of U.S. intelligence warnings concerning Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang. EconoTimes previously covered the board’s inquiry and Trump’s public backing of Huang.
Earlier New York Times reporting said U.S. intelligence warnings about Huang’s relationship with Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang had reached Trump. The newspaper reported that officials assessed Alice Huang had been recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security. CNN later reported that U.S. intelligence agencies differed over the strength of the evidence, and that sources said information gathered so far did not establish she was spying for Beijing.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department had reached no conclusion about Alice Huang and that the FBI was examining the matter, CNN reported. CNN also reported Trump said, “I don’t know if that’s been determined yet.” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun rejected the allegation as unsubstantiated and aimed at smearing China.
Nvidia is scheduled to report fiscal third-quarter 2027 results Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 4:20 p.m. ET (21:20 UTC), followed by an earnings call at 5 p.m. ET (22:00 UTC).
