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Behind the scenes as Nvidia’s Jensen Huang boarded Air Force One — just months before Chinese spy scandal exploded
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang joined President Donald Trump’s May 2026 state visit to China, travelling aboard Air Force One as he pursued opportunities in the Chinese chip market. The trip has drawn renewed scrutiny after reports emerged that Huang had an affair with Alice Huang, a business executive suspected of spying for China.
Huang boarded the presidential aircraft in Anchorage on 12 May, after arriving on his own jet with an aide and bodyguard; Trump aide Walt Nauta escorted him, and he spoke briefly with Eric Trump and Sean Hannity. Five months later, Huang acknowledged the affair. Alice Huang worked at Megaspeed International, which faced allegations of illegally shipping advanced Nvidia chips to China. Trump said he had not known of the concerns before the visit and that Huang told him he was unaware she was a spy; a report said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned Trump. Huang will not join Trump on his planned return visit to China.
In short
- Huang travelled to Beijing with Trump aboard Air Force One in May 2026.
- Reports later linked Huang’s affair to a suspected Chinese spy.
- Trump said he knew nothing of the allegations before the visit.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Huang’s place on the trip could be defended as practical business diplomacy: Nvidia is a major American company, and its chief executive had a direct interest in discussing access to China’s chip market. The reported affair and later allegations against Alice Huang do not, by themselves, establish that Jensen Huang knew of or assisted any spying or illicit exports; Trump has said he was unaware of the concerns at the time.
The case against
The invitation can be questioned on national-security and judgement grounds, given Nvidia’s sensitive technology and the reported warning to Trump about concerns surrounding Alice Huang and her company. Critics could argue that officials should have scrutinised the risks more carefully before giving a prominent business figure access to a presidential visit, even absent proof that Jensen Huang knew of wrongdoing.
Explained simply
Nvidia makes chips used in areas such as artificial intelligence, and its chief executive, Jensen Huang, has sought access to China, a major market. Sales of advanced chips to China have drawn scrutiny because governments say they can have military as well as commercial uses.
Alice Huang, a business executive who was reported to have had an affair with Jensen Huang, worked at Megaspeed International. The company faced allegations that it illegally shipped advanced Nvidia chips to China; Alice Huang was suspected of spying for China, allegations that have not been established as fact.
The episode links questions about business ties and access to sensitive technology with the handling of security concerns around senior officials. It also matters to US-China relations, where trade in advanced chips has become a point of tension.