Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Alice Huang affair: Timeline of suspected Chinese spy scandal
The reports of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s alleged involvement in a spy scandal have sent shockwaves through the tech world. President Donald Trump defends Huang as an ‘honorable guy’, whereas Nvidia’s board of directors has confirmed an independent...
Nvidia is launching an internal investigation into CEO Jensen Huang’s alleged affair with Alice Huang, who is suspected of being a Chinese spy. US President Donald Trump, while backing Nvidia’s CEO, said that he had spoken to Huang, who told him he had no idea the woman was suspected of being a Chinese spy.
Let us understand the timeline of how this high-profile controversy unfolded, eventually becoming a nightmare for Nvidia chief Jensen Huang.
2023: Megaspeed emerges from Chinese company 7Road Holdings
Chinese company 7Road Holdings created a separate firm named Megaspeed, with a mission to establish data centres in Southeast Asia using Nvidia chips. It also planned to rent cloud computing capacity to customers.
Megaspeed has reportedly been under scrutiny by the US agencies since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, with the US Justice Department now leading the investigation.
June 2024: Jensen Huang and Alice Huang photographed together for the first time
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Alice Huang were photographed together in Taipei, Taiwan. Jensen was visiting the city for an annual computer-industry trade show, while Alice was a senior executive at a Singapore-based data centre company.
The photograph was taken on a night when a group of technology executives had gathered at a bar. According to a WSJ report, an executive present at the gathering recalled Alice Huang telling the group, ‘Jensen’s a great friend of mine.’
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Jensen Huang and Alice Huang in TaipeiJensen reportedly arrived shortly after Alice sent a text message and ordered whiskey. He later left the bar alone, saying he was tired, the executive told WSJ.
Late 2024: US Commerce Department opens Megaspeed investigation
The US Commerce Department launched an investigation into Megaspeed over the possible diversion of chips to China, which could violate American export rules.
Alice Huang became managing director of Megaspeed International, as per a WSJ report. She resigned from the post in November 2023, the same month that Megaspeed became part of Nvidia's partnership program.
May 2025: Alice Huang photographed again with Nvidia CEO in Taiwan
Alice Huang was photographed again in Taipei, this time at a private dinner held during a technology conference, as per WSJ report.
<p>Alice Huang, a Chinese executive linked to the data centre company called Megaspeed, attending a dinner hosted by Nvidia's chief Jensen Huang — - / AFP<br></p>
October 2025: Nvidia's China chip sales come under scrutiny
The NYT reported that Megaspeed was under investigation, with federal investigators also examining the relationship between Alice Huang and Jensen Huang, along with the potential diversion of chips to China.
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Later that month, Jensen was seen praising Trump’s policies at an Nvidia summit in Washington.
<p>Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praises Trump in MAGA-themed speech ahead of trade talks<br></p>Two days later, Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a summit in Busan, South Korea. Senior officials in the US administration persuaded Trump not to approve the sale of Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell chips to China, despite Jensen Huang’s repeated requests.
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<p>Trump meets with China's Xi Jinping in South Korea | AP News<br></p>
December 8, 2025: Trump allows Nvidia H200 chip exports to China
Nvidia was granted permission to export its less powerful H200 chips to China, with 25% of the sales revenue going to the US federal government.
<p>The H200 chip is caught in tension over trade and technology more broadly between Washington and Beijing.<br></p>
Early 2026: Marco Rubio warns about Jensen Huang's relationship with Alice
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly warned about the personal relationship between Jensen Huang and Alice Huang. According to reports, the Justice Department began its investigation into Megaspeed following Rubio’s warning.
<p>Rubio Warned of Nvidia Chief's China Spy Relationship<br></p>
May 2026: Jensen Huang joins Trump's China delegation
Jensen Huang joined Trump’s delegation visiting China. He was reportedly a last-minute addition to the president’s trip.
<p>Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s chief executive in Beijing<br></p>
October 8, 2026: Trump honours Jensen Huang with National Medal of Science
President Trump awarded the National Medal of Science to Jensen Huang and other executives.
President Donald Trump and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during 'A New Golden Age Summit' at the US Institute of Peace
October 29–November 1, 2026: Reports link Alice Huang to suspected Chinese intelligence activities
The WSJ, NYT, and other US media outlets reported that US intelligence officials suspected Alice Huang of being a Chinese intelligence asset while she was reportedly involved in a personal relationship with Jensen Huang.
November 8, 2026: Jensen Huang admits affair as Nvidia launches independent investigation
A week later in November 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang reportedly confirmed having an extramarital affair with Alice Huang and released a statement addressing the controversy.
'I was unfaithful to my wife', Jensen Huang said.
November 9, 2026: Trump defends Jensen Huang amid Chinese spy allegations
A day later, Trump revealed at a press conference that he had spoken to Jensen Huang, who denied having any knowledge that Alice Huang was suspected of being a Chinese spy.
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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's woes evoke sympathy, disbelief in his birthplace Taiwan
