Trump says the FBI is investigating Nvidia's CEO

Trump says the FBI is 'looking into' the Nvidia CEO matter; shares fell 4.2% on Monday.

Trump said, 'I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else,' but gave few details and did not say when a probe began. The BBC has contacted the FBI. Trump also said he asked Huang if he knew Alice Huang was a spy, and that Huang said he had no idea.

The New York Times reported, as relayed by the BBC, that US intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, spied for Beijing. She was managing director of Singapore-based Megaspeed, which has dealt with Nvidia. China's foreign ministry called the allegations 'entirely groundless, speculative and intended to smear and malign China'. Nvidia said it had no reason to believe its secrets or national security were compromised, and its board said it would investigate. Huang admitted he was 'unfaithful' to his wife and apologised.

Elon Musk and Bill Ackman publicly backed Huang. Nvidia shares closed at their lowest level since 7 April, with about $250bn wiped off its market value.

Watch next: Huang has been asked to appear at a closed-door briefing for several Congressional committees next week. It is unclear whether he will.

The facts we checked

According to the BBC and The Guardian, with The Verge; claims about Alice Huang and Chinese intelligence come from New York Times reporting as relayed by those outlets, and China denies them.

1. Trump said the FBI was 'looking into' the issue but gave few details: 'I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he'll be in good shape.'Quote · The Guardian
2. Trump did not elaborate on the FBI probe or say when it was launched; the BBC has contacted the FBI.Reported · BBC News
3. Trump said he spoke with Huang on Monday: 'I asked him that question, 'Did you have any idea she was a spy?' He said 'I had no idea she was a spy' and I really believe him.'Quote · BBC News
4. Huang admitted he was 'unfaithful' to his wife and apologised for hurting her and their children.Fact · BBC News
5. US intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was a spy for Beijing, according to a New York Times report. She was managing director of Singapore-based Megaspeed, which has had dealings with Nvidia.Alleged · BBC News
6. China's foreign ministry said the allegations were 'entirely groundless, speculative and intended to smear and malign China'.Quote · BBC News
7. Nvidia said it had no reason to believe the company's secrets or national security were compromised.Fact · BBC News
8. Nvidia's board said it would investigate 'in light of recent reporting that founder and chief executive Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort'.Quote · BBC News
9. Elon Musk posted 'I agree' in response to venture capitalist Shaun Maguire's defense of Huang. Maguire wrote that Huang 'did something incredibly dumb' but is 'one of the greatest entrepreneurs of this generation'.Quote · The Guardian
10. Bill Ackman posted: 'He is an incredible human. Even incredible humans make mistakes.' He later said he was 'hoping for a simple affair, not a risk to our national security'.Quote · The Guardian
11. Nvidia shares fell 4.2% on Monday and closed at their lowest level since 7 April.Figure · The Guardian
12. About $250bn (£190bn) was wiped off Nvidia's market value.Figure · BBC News
13. Huang has been asked to appear at a joint closed-door briefing for several Congressional committees next week; it is unclear whether he will appear.Reported · BBC News

Sources

• BBC NewsTrump says FBI investigating Nvidia boss's affair with alleged Chinese spy
• The GuardianSilicon Valley and Trump rally behind Nvidia CEO after his affair with alleged Chinese spy
• The VergeEverything we know so far about the Nvidia spy scandal targeting CEO Jensen Huang
• BBC NewsNvidia shares tumble over investigation into Huang's affair with alleged Chinese spy
• TechCrunchThe race is on to sue Nvidia
• The GuardianThe AI poster boy, the ‘Chinese spy’ and Trump: how an affair may have harmed US security