President Donald Trump defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during a surprise press briefing Monday that started after his meeting with UFC founder Dana White, saying that he’d spoken with Huang and that Huang denied knowing that a woman he had a relationship with had ties to the Chinese government.
“I asked him that question: ‘Did you have any idea that she was a spy?’” Trump said of Huang, who has been the subject of a federal inquiry into his affair with an alleged Chinese spy. “He said, ‘I had no idea that she was a spy.’ And I really believe him.”
The president said the tech CEO shouldn’t worry about the FBI’s investigation into the matter.
“I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he’ll be in good shape,” Trump said.
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He also said he checked in on Huang on Monday mostly to see how his beleaguered ally was feeling after his relationship with the woman, Alice Huang, drew scrutiny over the past few days.
“I did speak to him today just to see if he’s feeling alright,” Trump said, calling Huang “an honorable man.”
Nvidia announced an investigation into its CEO on Sunday. Jensen Huang, who is married, has apologized to his family and company.
“I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry,” Huang said in a note to his staff, adding that he was “fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence.”
Trump’s sudden appearance at the podium began almost like a bit from “Saturday Night Live.” The president walked into the White House briefing room accompanied by White, following a short-lived buzz around the UFC CEO potentially becoming the next White House press secretary — which Trump started Saturday when he took to Truth Social to announce that White had been offered the job.
By Sunday, Trump said he was “kidding.” White stepped to the microphone Monday and answered a couple of reporters’ questions before turning the briefing back to the president. Trump joked again about the offer and ended the briefing by asking White if he would take the job.
“Thank you for the offer,” White responded. “I do not want to be in politics.”
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