Trump suggests Apple CEO Tim Cook to replace Nvidia leader amid scandal

“A legend replaces a legend,” Trump stated in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, advocating for Cook to lead the semiconductor giant. Nvidia has not yet named a permanent successor and has temporarily appointed Colette Kress, previously the company’s CFO, to the position.

Huang, a co-founder of Nvidia in 1993, resigned Thursday with immediate effect as CEO, chairman, and board member. His departure follows the revelation of two extramarital affairs, one with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman suspected of collaborating with Beijing’s intelligence services, and another with a Nvidia employee.

The case has prompted an internal investigation at Nvidia and has also drawn the attention of the FBI, as confirmed this week by Trump. The U.S. president had previously defended Huang, describing him as “extremely honorable” and “very integrity,” and expressing confidence in Huang’s claims of not knowing about the businesswoman’s alleged connections to Chinese espionage.

Nvidia has stated that it has no reason to believe that its trade secrets or U.S. national security have been compromised. The company now faces the challenge of finding a new CEO after more than three decades under Huang’s leadership, a figure who has become highly influential in the technology sector due to the rise of chips used in artificial intelligence.

Trump’s suggestion could also raise questions about potential conflicts of interest, as Cook remains CEO of Apple’s board of directors. U.S. antitrust legislation restricts the simultaneous presence of a single executive on the governing bodies of competing companies, although any incompatibility would depend on the functions assumed and whether he maintains his position at Apple. Ultimately, the decision on Nvidia’s next CEO rests with the company’s board of directors.