Trump Was Briefed in Advance on Jensen Huang China Spy Allegations, NYT Says, Contradicting Earlier Denial

President Donald Trump had prior knowledge of allegations linking Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang to a suspected Chinese spy, the New York Times reported.

The New York Times reported on Nov. 10, citing multiple people familiar with the matter, that Trump was briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was also serving as national security adviser, aboard Air Force One as the president traveled for a May trip to China. The briefing focused on Huang's relationship with a woman suspected of ties to Chinese intelligence services.

Huang was not originally included in the business delegation for the China trip. He later joined after receiving an additional invitation from Trump when the presidential plane stopped in Alaska. After confirming Huang would be traveling with the delegation, Rubio relayed to the president what intelligence agencies had learned, the report said. Trump nonetheless allowed Huang to remain on board.

The New York Times also reported that Trump received a briefing on the same matter in late autumn last year. If the report is accurate, he was informed at least twice over roughly seven months. The White House disputed the report but did not provide specific evidence to support its rebuttal.

That account differs from Trump's earlier public explanation. At a press conference on Nov. 9, he said he had not heard about the allegations when asked whether he knew of them during the May trip to China. Asked whether he had been briefed last year, Trump said intelligence agencies would need to confirm it, while also expressing confidence in Huang.

At the center of the controversy is Alice Huang, whom U.S. intelligence agencies suspect of ties to China's Ministry of State Security. Huang initially described their relationship as a standard customer relationship, but on Nov. 8 he acknowledged they had previously been romantically involved. Still, no officially confirmed information has been made public on whether Alice Huang was in fact part of a Chinese intelligence agency.

Nvidia is conducting an independent investigation into the matter. Huang is not expected to accompany Trump on the president's China visit scheduled for next week.