Trump says FBI is investigating Nvidia chief over alleged China spy links

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the FBI was investigating Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang's relationship with a Chinese businesswoman alleged to be a spy for Beijing. Trump said he was “amazed” by the allegations involving Huang, one of his closest allies in Silicon Valley. He said he had spoken to the chief executive, who told him he had no idea the woman was a spy.

Nvidia shares closed down more than 4 percent on Monday after the company's board launched an internal investigation into whether Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The investigation, announced on Sunday, has cast a spotlight on the future of 63-year-old Huang, given Nvidia's position as the world's most valuable chipmaker and his central role in the artificial intelligence boom. Known for his trademark leather jacket, Huang enjoys rock-star status worldwide, particularly in Asia, where he frequently mingles with fans, taking selfies and signing autographs.

He is Nvidia's fifth-largest shareholder, with a stake of about 3.6 percent, according to LSEG data.