Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told his employees on Sunday that he had an affair. "I was unfaithful to my wife," he wrote. "There is no excuse for what I did." He didn't name the woman, but news reports identify her as Alice Huang. U.S. intelligence reportedly believes she was working for China's main spy agency. She's a Chinese citizen and a former executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore company. Megaspeed bought more than $4.8 billion in Nvidia chips over two years, according to The New York Times. The two Huangs aren't related. On Sunday, Nvidia's board also opened an independent investigation into whether Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The board said it has "no reason to believe" any secrets were compromised. China calls the spy claim "smears." Huang stays on as CEO for now.

Huang Didn't Put the Country at Risk

Trump and Nvidia say they've seen no sign Huang put the country at risk.

The board sees no sign of a breach. The company says customers like Megaspeed never get trade secrets or national-security information. Nvidia spokesman John Rizzo said Huang's meetings with Alice Huang looked like his meetings with any other customer. He added that Huang has "an outstanding security team." The company also says the U.S. government would have warned it about a real threat.

He should keep his job, Trump says. President Donald Trump spoke to reporters on Sunday. "I just know he's a fine person, but you never know what is going on," he said. "I haven't heard he's done anything wrong." Asked if Huang should stay as CEO, he said, "I think so. Oh yeah, sure." Intelligence officials briefed Trump about a year ago, The New York Times reported. He didn't act. Asked on Sunday if he wished he had acted, Trump said no. He called Huang "an honorable guy."

But Congress Wants to Know What Was at Risk

Lawmakers in both parties say Congress needs to find out whether the affair put national security at risk.

Republicans want Huang to brief them in private on Nov. 18. Three Republican committee chairs asked for the briefing in a letter last week. One is Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, who chairs the House China committee. "It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which U.S. national security has been placed at risk," they wrote. Washington bars China from buying Nvidia's most advanced chips. Huang has pushed to sell more chips to China. He has also sided with Trump on AI policy.

Democrats want answers too, and one wants them from the administration. Rep. Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island wants Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify alongside Huang. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware is set to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January. "Congress will investigate and get answers," he wrote. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said Huang and Nvidia's board owe Congress answers. She wants Congress to pass a bill to keep advanced American technology out of China.

But Some Investors Doubt Huang Can Stay

Some analysts think the scandal could cost Huang his job.

His job may be on the line, some analysts say. Gary Black, managing partner of The Future Fund, wrote, "I doubt Jensen Huang will be able to remain as $NVDA CEO." He also said the company has "no natural successor." Tech analyst Dan Ives called the news a "black eye." He said the question investors will ask is, "Will Jensen remain CEO of Nvidia?" Analysts at the research firm Bernstein wrote in a note that "it is hard not to read the news over the weekend as negative."

The stock is sliding. Nvidia shares are down about 4% in overnight trading ahead of Monday's open. The stock is about a fifth below its early-October peak. Nvidia reports earnings on Nov. 17. The next day is when Republicans want Huang to brief them.

Where This Lands

Nvidia's board says it has no reason to believe anything was compromised. Trump wants Huang to stay. Lawmakers in both parties want answers from him. Some investors doubt he survives this. Gary Black says Nvidia has no natural successor. Nvidia reports earnings on Nov. 17. Republicans want Huang in front of them the next day.

Sources