Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Resigns Amid Spy Scandal, and Trump Says Only Tim Cook Can Replace Him: ‘A Legend Replaces a Legend!’

Jensen Huang resigned Thursday as chief executive of Nvidia, days after admitting an affair with a woman U.S. officials suspect of spying for China, and President Donald Trump quickly named the man he wants in the job.

Huang stepped down as president, CEO and board member “effective immediately,” Nvidia’s board said in a statement. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress will serve as interim CEO while the board searches inside and outside the company for a permanent successor.

The board also named Harvey C. Jones, a former Synopsys chief executive, as its first-ever chair. “The Board has full confidence in Colette and the leadership team,” Jones said. Nvidia still plans to report third-quarter results on Nov. 17 as scheduled.

Within hours, Trump weighed in on Truth Social, Fox Business reported.

“NOW THAT Nvidia CEO JENSEN HUANG, who has done a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place – TIM COOK of Apple. A Legend replaces a Legend!” he wrote.

Cook stepped down as Apple’s CEO in September and now serves as its executive chairman. Trump did not say whether Cook had shown any interest in running Nvidia, and Apple did not immediately respond, Politico reported.

A Scandal With National Security Stakes

Huang apologized Sunday for a relationship with Alice Huang, a former Megaspeed executive whom U.S. officials reportedly believe used it to gather intelligence for Beijing, the Washington Examiner reported.

“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 wrote in a company-wide email, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The board initially stood by him. That changed Wednesday, when reports surfaced that it was preparing to oust him minutes after a second alleged affair, with an Nvidia employee, came to light.

No evidence has been made public that Huang shared confidential information or that the woman obtained Nvidia secrets, Fox Business noted. Trump had defended Huang on Monday, saying he believed Huang did not know about her alleged intelligence ties.

Congress wants answers anyway. Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast, China Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar and Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford, all House Republicans, requested a closed-door appearance, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

“It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which U.S. national security has been placed at risk,” the three wrote. Huang has agreed to testify by Thanksgiving, though no date has been set, the outlet reported.

Investors reacted sharply. Nvidia shares fell about 10% at Thursday’s opening bell and stood about 18% below where they were five days earlier, Forbes reported.

Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and led it to the center of the artificial intelligence boom. “Jensen’s contributions to NVIDIA are profound,” the board said, thanking him for his “immeasurable contributions to the company and the industry.”

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