Trump Stands by Jensen Huang, Faces Political Test Over Allegedly Turning a Blind Eye to ‘Affair With Chinese Spy’ Allegations

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who acknowledged allegations of an affair with a person suspected of being a “Chinese spy,” and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was looking into the case. With allegations emerging that Trump received a briefing about the matter around a year ago but turned a blind eye, Huang’s affair scandal is now fueling controversy over the president’s handling of national security.
On the 9th (local time), reporters asked Trump in the White House briefing room when he had been informed about the issue involving Huang. “I was more surprised than anything when I heard about it because I think he’s a very good person,” he replied. “I hope there’s nothing wrong. I was informed about it not long ago, and we’ll look into the matter.” He added, “The FBI is looking into this in connection with other matters, and I think he’ll be fine.”
Trump also said, “I called him today to see if he was okay. He said, ‘I had no idea the person in question was a spy.’ He is suffering greatly.”
Later, when asked again when he had first been briefed on the matter involving Huang, Trump gave a vague answer, saying, “There may have been a mention of it in intelligence briefings,” then brushed the question aside, saying, “It didn’t really affect me.”
The U.S. daily The New York Times (NYT), however, noted in an article raising the affair allegations that “President Trump received a briefing about the matter around a year ago but took no action and turned a blind eye.”
The U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also noted that Trump had put himself at the center of controversy over national security issues by standing by Huang. The paper said, “Huang is President Trump’s closest adviser on artificial intelligence (AI), and AI is central to the White House’s economic and national security strategies,” adding, “Huang’s scandal has put Trump to the test.”
The newspaper particularly criticized the fact that “when President Trump awarded Huang the most prestigious honor in science and technology last October, many officials in the Trump administration were already aware of the allegations of Huang’s affair.” It added, “Key Republican lawmakers in Congress have sent Huang a letter demanding answers, and Trump himself may soon face pressure to provide further explanations about when he knew what regarding this matter.”
The U.S. political news outlet Axios also criticized Trump, saying that “even after becoming aware of the allegations, he took Huang along on the itinerary for the U.S.-China summit last May.”
Amid this situation, Trump was also asked the previous day whether he would bring Huang along on his trip to the Philippines and China in the middle of this month. “I don’t know, but I will definitely take him,” he replied, adding, “I haven’t heard that he did anything wrong.” The controversy is expected to intensify further.
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter