President Donald Trump has suggested that former Apple CEO Tim Cook should succeed Jensen Huang as Nvidia’s chief executive.
“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,” Trump wrote on social media.
“A Legend replaces a Legend!”
Trump made the recommendation just hours after reports emerged that Huang would leave the company he co-founded 33 years ago and helped build into one of the world’s most valuable technology firms.
Huang’s departure followed a New York Times report alleging that the 63-year-old executive had an affair with a subordinate, Kimberly Powell. The allegation has not been independently established.
The previous week, reports also alleged that Huang had been involved with Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based data company Megaspeed. She is not related to the former Nvidia chief and has reportedly been accused of being a Chinese spy—an allegation that also remains unverified.
The reports about the two alleged affairs sent shock waves through the $4 trillion company, contributing to a sharp fall in its share price and raising questions about whether Huang may have been misled by the alleged intelligence operative.
Cook, meanwhile, stepped down as Apple’s CEO in early September after 15 years leading the company.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that former Apple CEO Tim Cook should lead Nvidia after CEO Jensen Huang stepped down
Huang stepped down Thursday following reports of two alleged affairs. Trump praised his performance at Nvidia
The former Nvidia chief is pictured beside Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based data company Megaspeed who has reportedly been accused of being a Chinese spy
Cook and Huang both have close relationships with Trump, who has praised Apple and Nvidia for their role in advancing US technology amid competition with China.
The two executives joined Trump during his trip to China in May, and Huang was invited to travel with the president aboard Air Force One for part of the journey.
Reports said Trump was briefed about the allegations involving Huang and the suspected spy before Huang boarded the aircraft, but allowed him to join the flight.
The allegations prompted an internal investigation at Nvidia before Huang’s departure. It remains unclear how his resignation will affect the inquiry.
Lawmakers have also indicated that they want answers, particularly about the allegations involving the suspected spy.
Despite Huang’s ties to Trump, several Republicans have discussed subpoenaing the former Nvidia CEO as part of a congressional investigation.
“Jensen Huang himself has been a pretty bold, some might even say arrogant promoter, sort of dismissing our concerns about China having access to these most advanced chips,” Republican Senator Kevin Cramer told CNBC on Thursday morning.
“And I do not take that lightly… I would be happy to support a subpoena.”
Huang and his wife, Lori Huang, speak with former Apple CEO Tim Cook during a White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 24
Huang and Cook both joined Trump’s May trip to China and are shown above in Beijing with the US delegation
Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party; and Rick Crawford, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, have also expressed support for subpoenaing Huang.
The three Republican lawmakers sent Huang a letter last week asking him to attend a “joint, closed-door briefing” about the allegations concerning his reported relationship with the suspected Chinese spy.
The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Huang was expected to cooperate with lawmakers and meet them privately. It was not immediately clear whether his resignation would affect that arrangement.
