Trump floats Tim Cook as potential alternative to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang

WASHINGTON,DC: Hours after Jensen Huang stepped down as Nvidia CEO on Thursday, November 12, President Donald Trump floated a new name for the position.

President Trump has thrown Apple executive chairman Tim Cook’s name into the race to replace Jensen Huang as Nvidia CEO following the latter’s abrupt resignation.

In a Truth Social post, Trump endorsed Cook for the top job while praising both business leaders.

His suggestion comes as Nvidia begins its search for a permanent chief executive after Huang’s exit amid a controversy involving allegations of Chinese espionage.

Trump names Cook as Huang’s successor

Responding to Nvidia’s announcement, Trump took to Truth Social to name his preferred candidate for the vacant CEO position.

He wrote: “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. A Legend replaces a Legend! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

Trump offered no details about what made Cook suitable for the role or whether he had spoken to either executive about the idea.

There is also no indication that Nvidia’s board has contacted Cook or included him in its search for a new chief executive.

Cook’s name is notable because he left the Apple CEO position in September after 15 years at the helm, moving into the role of executive chairman.

During his tenure, Apple expanded its services business and strengthened its global manufacturing network and supply-chain operations.

The Apple executive has also maintained direct engagement with Trump’s administration, particularly over domestic manufacturing and trade policy.

Cook has made several White House visits and sought to protect Apple’s interests amid tariff-related decisions.

In August, he presented Trump with a commemorative plaque following Apple’s announcement of an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing.

For now, Nvidia has placed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress in charge as interim CEO.

The board has said it will assess candidates from both inside and outside the company before naming a permanent successor.

Huang’s exit comes amid allegations of Chinese espionage

Trump’s suggestion of Cook comes as he had maintained a close working relationship with Huang, who was among the prominent technology leaders regularly engaging with the president.

The Nvidia co-founder met Trump on several occasions, joined him during a visit to China and backed parts of his administration’s artificial intelligence agenda.

He had also urged US officials to relax restrictions on sales of advanced Nvidia chips to Chinese buyers.

Trump had previously stood by Huang when allegations surfaced about his reported association with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman suspected by US intelligence officials of having links to Beijing.

She had been associated with Singapore-based Megaspeed International, which attracted scrutiny over concerns that Nvidia processors may have been supplied to buyers in China despite US export restrictions.

Speaking about the allegations earlier, Trump said Huang had told him he knew nothing about the woman's suspected intelligence connections.

The president said he believed Jensen and described him as an honorable person who had done an excellent job for the United States.

On November 12, Nvidia announced that Huang had stepped down as its president, CEO and board member with immediate effect.

The company praised his contribution but provided no explanation for the sudden departure or any direct link between his exit and the investigation.