Jensen Huang and chief executive of Nvidia, has resigned from his positions as CEO, president, and board member, marking an abrupt end to his 33-year tenure at the company.
His departure, which took effect on November 12, follows a period of intense political scrutiny regarding his influence over U.S. chip export policies and reports concerning his personal conduct, according to reports from India Today.
Marco Rubio intelligence memo on Nvidia chip sales
Marco Rubio presented intelligence memos regarding Huang
Huang’s exit is linked to a broader struggle within the U.S. administration over the sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China.
Thanks to @maureendowd for the shout-out to my Atlantic essay in her new column on the downfall of Jensen Huang: As Julian Gewirtz wrote in The Atlantic, “American strategy has come to depend, to an extraordinary degree, on powerful private-sector actors whose incentives the…
According to reports cited by Zamin.uz, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio played a decisive role in the conflict by presenting a special intelligence memo to President Donald Trump. This document reportedly framed an intelligence report in a grim light, warning of alleged ties between Huang and a Chinese spy.
The political pressure was fueled by national security advocates who resented the direct access Huang maintained with President Trump. These officials viewed Huang’s lobbying efforts—which had successfully persuaded the president to approve certain chip sales to China in exchange for a share of revenue—as a threat to U.S. national security.
More than 100K people have reportedly signed an open letter calling for Jensen Huang’s reinstatement as $NVDA CEO. 10% chance he returns. pic.twitter.com/LlxGuzCphv
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had previously described the arrangement as a conversation between a “great American technologist” and a “businessman president,” but some within the administration reportedly compared the situation to handing a “nuclear” asset to a strategic rival.
Personal allegations and resignation from Nvidia
Personal scandals forced Huang to resign
The political maneuvering was compounded by the surfacing of personal scandals. According to Zamin.uz and JournalArta, reports indicated that Huang had engaged in extramarital relationships, including one with an alleged Chinese intelligence asset and another with an employee under his direct supervision.
Elon Musk says a petition to reinstate Jensen Huang as $NVDA CEO is underway and that he plans to sign it. That comes as Nvidia employees are already pushing for Jensen’s return. pic.twitter.com/nOur0HR0sD
Huang initially admitted to a relationship with the head of a client company and issued an apology, but he was forced to step down following the emergence of details regarding his subordinate.
In the lead-up to the resignation, lawmakers including Representatives Brian Mast and John Moolenaar, along with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, had pressed Nvidia for information regarding its China trade practices, according to TokenPost.
Elon Musk signature on Stand with Jensen petition
Nvidia shares declined as supporters petitioned for Huang
Following the resignation, Nvidia shares declined, falling more than 2% in regular trading and sliding further in after-hours trading. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has been named interim CEO while the company initiates a search for a successor.
A petition titled “Stand with Jensen” has since emerged, garnering approximately 36,000 signatures—including those of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke, and Fundstrat’s Tom Lee. Signatories are urging the Nvidia board to reinstate Huang while conducting an independent investigation.
Supporters argue that Huang deserves due process and have raised concerns that the evidence labeling the woman at the center of the controversy as a spy has not been disclosed.
While the Chinese Foreign Ministry has demanded that the U.S. stop “fabricating spy stories,” the long-term impact of the leadership change remains uncertain. President Trump, who had maintained a close relationship with Huang since 2025, described the former CEO as a “legend” who had “done a fantastic job.” As of now, Nvidia’s board has not publicly responded to the petition.
Earlier coverage: Rubio Accused of Rewriting CIA Memo; Jensen Huang Stepped Down