Musk Warns Nvidia Could Lose Critical Deals After Huang's Exit

Elon Musk said Saturday that Nvidia stands to lose important business agreements in the wake of Jensen Huang's departure as chief executive, arguing that many of the company's arrangements rested on personal relationships rather than formal paperwork.

"Jensen drove supply chain brilliantly at Nvidia, but many of those deals were a handshake with Jensen, not a written contract," Musk wrote in a post on social platform X. "Without Jensen, at least some of those critical deals will be lost."

Huang's resignation was announced Thursday after mounting scrutiny tied to an October New York Times report. That report said American authorities determined that Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang illegally smuggled AI chips into China while developing what was described as a "close relationship" with the then-Nvidia chief.

The exit also came one day after the Times reported Wednesday that Huang had a separate affair with a Nvidia executive who reported directly to him, citing five people who worked at the company.

Musk had signaled support for Huang before the resignation, writing in response to a post on X that it "would be an honor" to hire him.

President Trump weighed in on the leadership vacancy in a Truth Social post, urging that former Apple CEO Tim Cook be chosen as Huang's successor and declaring that a legend should replace a legend.

In the days following the initial Times report, Nvidia's board announced Sunday that it would open an independent investigation into the matter. By Tuesday, the company said it had retained former acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim and his firm, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, to lead that probe.

Huang acknowledged his infidelity in a statement reported by Bloomberg. "My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry," he said, admitting he had been unfaithful to his wife.

Republican lawmakers have also called on Huang to appear at a joint, closed-door briefing on Nov. 18 to answer questions about Nvidia's security protocols and his interactions with the alleged spy.