Rubio's memo to Trump put Jensen Huang's China ties under scrutiny: Report
Rubio reportedly used stronger language than the CIA report as he raised concerns about Huang's relationship and its potential security implications
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly alerted President Donald Trump to former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with a Chinese businesswoman suspected of having links to Chinese intelligence, bringing tensions over Washington's policy on advanced chip sales to China into sharper focus. According to The Washington Post, Rubio sent Trump a memo based on a CIA report about the woman.
Rubio's memo targets Huang's influence
The intervention came as Huang, then Nvidia's CEO, enjoyed direct access to Trump and argued against tighter restrictions on advanced AI chip sales to China. Some officials in the administration reportedly wanted that influence to end.
“They wanted to destroy the influence Jensen had over the president,” a former official involved in chip policy told The Washington Post, speaking anonymously about internal discussions.
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The newspaper reported that Rubio recast the CIA's findings in stronger terms as he prepared his memo. According to the report, the Secretary of State used more assertive language than the agency's report.
The findings later reached the media, bringing Huang's relationship and its possible national security implications into public view.
Rubio declines to discuss role in alerting Trump
However, at the Group of Seven summit in Paris, Rubio declined several times to discuss his role in alerting the White House.
Asked whether the controversy had changed his position on AI negotiations with Beijing, he said, “The Chinese system is always going to act in the best interest of the Chinese system, and the United States will always act in the best interest of the United States. I work for the American people.”
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Huang subsequently acknowledged an affair with an executive at an Nvidia customer and apologised. Nvidia's board opened an inquiry into whether the relationship had compromised the company's security. It initially said it retained confidence in his leadership.
Reports of another affair, this time involving an Nvidia subordinate, followed. The board then met to discuss Huang's position. He resigned as chief executive on Thursday (November 12).
Dispute over Nvidia chip sales to China
According to the report, Huang had persuaded Trump to approve sales of certain advanced chips to China, arguing that continued access to American technology would keep Chinese companies dependent on US suppliers.
Also Read: Nvidia opens probe into CEO Jensen Huang’s ‘affair’ with Chinese spy
China hawks in Washington opposed that approach. They viewed advanced Nvidia chips as assets in the technological and military contest with Beijing, and warned that sales could strengthen a strategic rival.
What Commerce Secretary said
Trump's decision to allow certain chip sales in exchange for a share of the revenue followed Huang's direct talks with the president. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the agreement in December 2025.
“So, it's the great American technologist talking to the great businessman president, and they reached what they thought was the right answer for this particular moment,” he told CNBC.