Could Jensen Huang return to Nvidia? Employees and Elon Musk want him back, but the board just built a structure without him

Jensen Huang's return to Nvidia is becoming a public demand, but the company's board has given no indication that it plans to reverse his resignation. Elon Musk joined the campaign on Friday, November 13, saying he had signed a petition to bring the former CEO back. Nvidia employees are also asking the board to reconsider its decision. More than 1,600 comments have appeared on an internal company post, with most reportedly supporting Huang.

The campaign puts Nvidia in an unusual position. The company has lost its co-founder and longtime leader during a period of scrutiny over his personal relationships and possible national security concerns. His supporters want the board to give him another chance. The directors have already started building a leadership structure without him.

Elon Musk joins the campaign to bring Huang back

"A petition is underway to reinstate Jensen and I'm signing it too," Musk wrote on X on Friday.


He did not identify the petition. Several online appeals are circulating, including a public campaign called Stand with Jensen. The website has attracted thousands of supporters. Musk's name, along with those of other prominent business figures, has appeared among its supporters.

Musk has previously spoken about the difficulty of replacing company founders. When someone suggested that he hire Huang, he replied, "That would be an honor."

Fundstrat's Tom Lee has also supported the possibility of a comeback. He described Huang's reinstatement as a "powerful" and "shocking" redemption story. Lee argued that several groups may have wanted Huang out, including China hawks, AI companies, Nvidia's competitors and short sellers. He did not provide evidence for those claims.

Nvidia employees want the board to reconsider

The support is not limited to people outside Nvidia.

According to Wired, a longtime Nvidia engineer submitted an internal suggestion-box post before Huang's resignation. The post asked the board to consider employee sentiment before making a decision about his leadership.

It has since attracted more than 1,600 comments. Several employees have asked directors to find a way to bring Huang back. One anonymous employee wrote, "If you believe in the mission, bring back THE boss."

Another argued that Huang had made mistakes but deserved a second chance.

An Nvidia employee also sent a companywide email demanding more transparency about his departure. The staff member said they continued to stand by Huang because of what his leadership had meant to the company.

The comments show considerable support for the former CEO. They are not 1,600 verified signatures or a formal employee vote. Nvidia has not released an official survey of staff opinion.

Why did Jensen Huang resign from Nvidia?

Huang stepped down as Nvidia's president, CEO and board member, effective immediately. The company announced the change on November 12, following the board's acceptance of his resignation the previous day.

The departure followed reports about his relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman and former executive at Megaspeed International, an Nvidia customer. US officials have reportedly suspected her of having links to Chinese intelligence. Beijing has denied the spying allegations. Reuters has not independently verified whether she worked for the Chinese government.

Huang had acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife in an email to employees on November 8. He apologised but did not identify the woman.

Reports also alleged relationships with Nvidia healthcare vice president Kimberly Powell and another company employee. Those allegations have not been publicly established.

A fresh Reuters investigation published on November 14 added another detail. Messages reviewed by the news agency reportedly showed Huang describing his interactions with Alice Huang as routine customer dealings to senior Nvidia executives, including general counsel Tim Teter. Nvidia and Huang declined to comment.

Nvidia's independent directors had already hired former acting US attorney Joon H. Kim and law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz on November 10 to conduct an independent investigation.

Has Nvidia already chosen Huang's replacement?

Colette Kress is running Nvidia for now. She joined the company in 2013 and has served as its chief financial officer since then. She will retain that position while working as interim CEO.

The board also appointed Harvey C. Jones as its first-ever chair. Jones has been an Nvidia director since 1993. The company says its search for a permanent CEO will consider both internal and external candidates.

Arm CEO Rene Haas emerged as a possible successor after a Financial Times report said Nvidia's board had approached him. Nvidia later said it had not formally contacted any potential candidates. The board is still at the stage of selecting a search firm.

President Donald Trump has also entered the debate. The New York Times reported that he called Huang on November 10 and urged him to fight for his job. On November 12, Trump publicly suggested former Apple CEO Tim Cook as Huang's replacement, calling him a legend. Cook is now Apple's executive chairman. There is no indication that Nvidia is considering him.

Washington's scrutiny is continuing. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has agreed to testify before the Senate Banking Committee on December 10 over questions involving Nvidia's chip exports to China.

A return is possible, but there is no announced plan for it.

The employee campaign and Musk's support have put pressure on the board to explain its decision. They do not have the authority to reverse the resignation themselves. That decision belongs to Nvidia's directors.

The financial pressure is another concern. Nvidia shares fell about 2.2% on Friday, November 13, as investors reacted to the leadership uncertainty. Reuters reported that the stock had also fallen more than 30% from its October 6 closing high, wiping more than $1.8 trillion from its market value.