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Lutnick Faces Firing Talk Over Nvidia Chief’s China Spy Link

White House officials are discussing whether to fire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick after Nvidia chief Jensen Huang resigned over reports of ties to a suspected Chinese spy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Republican senators have publicly questioned the Commerce Department's handling of export controls.

By matthew jonathan

November 14, 20262 min read

Lutnick Faces Firing Talk Over Nvidia Chief's China Spy Link — Lutnick Faces Firing Talk Over Nvidia Chief’s China Spy Link)

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is under growing pressure, with White House officials discussing whether to fire him, after Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang resigned on Thursday amid a China spy scandal. Republicans who normally back the administration are now questioning how Lutnick's department handled export controls on chips.

Huang stepped down after reports of multiple affairs, most notably with Alice Huang, who is no relation and is suspected of being a Chinese spy. Nvidia's chief financial officer, Colette Kress, replaced him on an interim basis.

The Associated Press reported that a US intelligence report on Huang's relationship with the alleged spy circulated among senior figures in the Trump administration. That is what has pushed the question of who knew what, and when, toward the cabinet.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent put the blame on Commerce. He said he had favored adding Singapore-based Megaspeed to Washington's blacklist of companies seen as a national security risk "for months," but that Lutnick's department "has the pen." "You will have to ask them about their internal process," Bessent said on Friday.

Megaspeed is associated with Alice Huang and has bought billions of dollars of Nvidia chips in recent years. Lutnick is facing criticism for the delay in blacklisting it despite reported concerns inside the administration.

Utah Republican Senator John Curtis said the reported delay "raises the question of whether the commerce department is acting in the best interests of the American people." Republican Senator John Cornyn called for "a thorough investigation and accountability for the outrageous circumvention of national security export controls," adding: "Heads should roll."

Lutnick is due to testify before Congress next month, just days after the ousted Nvidia chief answers lawmakers' questions on Capitol Hill. Lutnick spokesperson Kristen Eichamer said he "has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the banking committee." Republican Senator Tim Scott, who chairs the Senate banking committee, had written to both Lutnick and Huang asking them to appear.

Democrats are pressing the White House as well. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he had demanded a classified briefing for all members of Congress about Nvidia. The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump called Huang two days before he stepped down and urged him to fight for his job.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer asked what Trump knew when he personally invited Huang aboard Air Force One for a state visit to Beijing earlier this year. "Americans deserve to know that those at the highest levels of power are putting America first, not their bottom line or their personal friendships," Schumer said.