President Donald Trump said Monday he didn’t know about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s relationship with a suspected Chinese spy when he headed to Beijing in May — but a previously unreported briefing aboard Air Force One threw that denial into doubt.
“No, I didn’t hear about it then,” Trump said when asked whether he knew about Huang’s ties to the woman at the time.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed Trump about the intelligence before Huang boarded the plane during a refueling stop in Alaska, The New York Times reported Tuesday. But Trump went ahead with the pickup.
“The existence of the previously unreported update given to Mr. Trump contradicts the president’s assertion on Monday,” The Times said, adding it was at least the second time Trump had been told about the intelligence.
The White House disputed the report.
U.S. officials concluded that the woman, known as Alice Huang, was working for China’s Ministry of State Security, according to the outlet. Jensen Huang acknowledged the romantic relationship Sunday, prompting Nvidia to announce an independent investigation.
“The disclosures about the relationship have rocked the company and driven down its stock price,” The Times reported Tuesday, adding that Trump has “played down or dismissed” the intelligence concerns since first being briefed by officials last year.
The president added Monday that Huang told him he hadn’t known about the woman’s alleged intelligence ties.
“I just know Jensen very well,” Trump said while defending the CEO. “I just think he’s a very honorable man.”