Trump says Tim Cook should replace Jensen Huang as Nvidia CEO after Huang’s resignation

President Donald Trump said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, should take over as Nvidia’s chief executive after Jensen Huang resigned on Thursday, Nov. 12. Huang’s departure came amid reports of extramarital relationships, including one involving a woman whom U.S. intelligence sources have alleged was recruited as a Chinese spy.

“Now that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who did a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place: Tim Cook of Apple. One legend replaces another legend!” Trump wrote in a social media post.

Trump and Huang have maintained a close relationship since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. Trump has hosted Huang at the White House several times. Huang also accompanied Trump on trips to the United Kingdom in September 2025 and to China in May 2026. Trump said he had spoken with Huang about the espionage allegation and believed Huang did not know that Alice Huang might be a Chinese spy.

Nvidia, which makes semiconductor chips for artificial intelligence and other technologies, saw its shares fall by more than 13% on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed, had drawn scrutiny. U.S. intelligence sources told The New York Times that she may have been recruited by the Chinese government to get close to Huang and persuade Nvidia to sell newer semiconductor models to the Chinese market. China denies the allegations and has called them an attempt to defame its government.

The New York Times also reported that Huang had another extramarital relationship, with Kimberly Powell, president of Nvidia’s health care division. The newspaper said the two were seen in an intimate situation at a hotel in San Jose, California, during a company conference in March.

Nvidia named its chief financial officer, Colette Kress, interim CEO following Huang’s departure. Harvey C. Jones will serve as chairman of the board.