Trump defends Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, says he'll bring him on Asia trip

US President Donald Trump has come to the defense of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after Huang acknowledged an extramarital affair with a Chinese businesswoman suspected of spying for Chinese intelligence.

Speaking to reporters Sunday (local time) on his way back to the White House from an airport in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said he had not spoken with Huang about the affair, Yonhap reported.

"I know he's a fine man," Trump said. "But nobody knows what's going on. I hope everything works out well."

Trump added that Huang had "done an incredible job" and expressed confidence in his character. "He's an honorable man. You have to hear him out," he said.

Asked whether he would bring Huang along on his planned mid-November trip to the Philippines and China, Trump said, "I don't know, but I'll certainly bring him." He added that he had not heard that Huang had done anything wrong.

Earlier that day, Huang issued a statement acknowledging the affair.

"I was unfaithful to my wife," Huang said. "My actions have hurt my wife and children." He added that there was "no excuse" for what he had done and apologized to both his family and Nvidia employees.

On the company's future, Huang said leading Nvidia was "the privilege of my life" and pledged to "work to regain your trust." Addressing national security concerns, he said: "I love our country and our company. I will do everything I can to protect Nvidia and to protect America's national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American."

Huang had faced allegations of a romantic relationship with Alice Huang — known in Chinese as Huang Le — a Chinese businesswoman identified as a spy for China's Ministry of State Security.

A former executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data center company, Alice Huang had been under surveillance by US intelligence agencies on suspicion of cultivating a relationship with Jensen Huang to extract secrets about advanced AI semiconductors and monitor the Trump administration's activities.