Tech Allies Rally Behind Jensen Huang, Calling Him Vital in A.I. Race

Jensen Huang’s admission that he had been unfaithful to his wife prompted prominent Silicon Valley investors and technology figures to defend him, despite his relationship with a woman U.S. officials say was recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security. China rejects the espionage allegations. Supporters, including Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire, Bill Ackman, Gavin Baker, Elon Musk and Antonio Gracias, described Huang’s conduct as a serious personal mistake but argued it should not erase his record or threaten his leadership. Their central claim is that Huang is indispensable to American artificial intelligence: Nvidia supplies the scarce chips that determine which technology companies can advance, and its business is closely tied to leading AI firms.

The defenses also reflect the national and political stakes surrounding Nvidia. Huang has opposed cutting China off from U.S. chips and has become an ally of President Trump, who said he believed Huang was unaware of the woman’s alleged intelligence ties. The Times had previously reported that Trump was briefed about her a year earlier; he declined to say whether he received that briefing. Some supporters cast Huang’s departure as a strategic gift to China, while acknowledging that Nvidia is a target because of its importance. Congressional Republican leaders have requested a closed-door briefing with Huang, and Nvidia’s board has opened an investigation, saying it has no reason to believe company secrets or national security were compromised.