Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the Nvidia/Japan AI Ecosystem Reception in Tokyo on July 16, 2026. | Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images Former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s sudden downfall is in a sense shocking, considering his wealth, global fame, and role leading what was until recently the world’s most valuable company. But Huang’s immense influence in Washington — and particularly in President Donald Trump’s Washington — has long been intensely controversial among a surprisingly diverse cross-section of the political, business, and tech advocacy world. And his ouster not only drives a wedge through Trump’s second-term coalition, it could usher in a major change in how the US steers the AI revolution. Huang — who resigned this week after allegations he’d had affairs with two Nvidia employees and one Chinese businesswoman who some US officials claim was spying on him for the Chinese government — has been crucial in helping shape the Trump administration’s AI policies. That’s perhaps no surprise, given that Nvidia’s advanced chips are crucial to the AI revolution. His many critics, however, say Huang’s influence has been deeply harmful. Their main objection? They believe the Trump administration hasn’t been doing enough to stop China from getting or accessing advanced AI chips —...
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