Trump takes Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to China after public snub controversy
BEIJING, CHINA: US President Donald Trump invited Jensen Huang to join his high-profile trip to China after reports emerged suggesting the Nvidia chief had been excluded from the delegation.
Huang was spotted boarding Air Force One during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday evening as Trump traveled to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Nvidia CEO later appeared alongside Elon Musk while disembarking Air Force One in Beijing on Wednesday evening.
The two technology executives walked behind Trump as Chinese officials formally welcomed the American delegation.
Nvidia says Huang supporting administration goals
A spokesperson for Nvidia confirmed Huang’s participation in the trip and emphasized that he was attending at Trump’s request.
“Jensen is attending the summit at the invitation of President Trump to support America and the administration’s goals,” the company spokesperson said.
Huang’s presence at the summit quickly drew attention given Nvidia’s central role in the global artificial intelligence and semiconductor race, particularly amid ongoing US-China tensions over advanced chip exports and technology restrictions.
Trump targets CNBC over initial report
The controversy intensified after Trump publicly criticized CNBC for reporting earlier that Huang had not been invited on the trip.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump dismissed the report as inaccurate and celebrated Huang’s participation.
“CNBC incorrectly reported that the Great Jensen Huang, of Nvidia, was not invited to the incredible gathering of the World’s Greatest Businessmen/women proudly going to China,” Trump wrote.
“In actuality, Jensen is currently on Air Force One and, unless I ask him to leave, which is highly unlikely, CNBC’s reporting is incorrect or, as they say in politics, FAKE NEWS!” he added.
White House delegation featured top corporate leaders
Despite Trump’s remarks, Huang’s name was not included in the official list of business leaders released earlier by the White House.
The delegation initially announced by the administration included prominent corporate executives such as Tim Cook of Apple, Larry Fink of BlackRock, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, Dina Powell McCormick representing Meta, and David Solomon of Goldman Sachs.
Huang’s late addition underscores the growing strategic importance of semiconductor companies in Washington’s relationship with Beijing, especially as artificial intelligence, chip manufacturing, and technology supply chains become increasingly tied to geopolitical competition.
The delegation initially announced by the administration included prominent corporate executives such as Tim Cook of Apple, Larry Fink of BlackRock, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, Dina Powell McCormick representing Meta, and David Solomon of Goldman Sachs.
