Nvidia CEO Meets Trump Amid US-China Tech Rivalry

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, just days before Huang's planned visit to China. This meeting occurs at a time when the US-China tech rivalry is intensifying, placing Nvidia at the center of global semiconductor politics. The specific topics for the Trump-Huang meeting have not been disclosed, and neither Nvidia nor the White House has made any official comment. Sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity were not authorized to discuss the meeting.

This meeting follows Nvidia's recent achievement of reaching a record-setting high, becoming the first company to reach a $4 trillion market value. This success is driven by investor enthusiasm for the rapidly growing AI space. Trump praised Nvidia’s market performance in a social media message, attributing the success to his trade policies. “NVIDIA IS UP 47% SINCE TRUMP TARIFFS. The USA is taking in Hundreds of Billions of Dollars in Tariffs,” Trump wrote.

Huang’s upcoming visit to China is particularly delicate for Nvidia, which has been involved in Washington’s intensifying technology war with China. Nvidia, once dominant in the Chinese market, now faces strict restrictions on selling its most advanced artificial intelligence chips due to a series of US export controls by the Biden administration, backed by Congress. The US government aims to prevent China from accessing high-end chips and chip-making equipment, fearing they could be used for military or surveillance purposes. This has led companies like Nvidia to create altered versions of their chips for sale in China, often with reduced performance.

Behind the scenes, Huang is concerned that these restrictions give Chinese companies such as Huawei Technologies an advantage. He has criticized the export bans in previous interviews and industry discussions, stating that the measures are short-sighted and could accelerate China’s efforts to develop its own alternatives. Nvidia estimates it will lose as much as $8 billion in potential revenue this quarter due to the export rules. The company has already scaled back its presence in China, and Huang’s return marks an attempt to mend commercial and regulatory relationships.

While in Beijing, Huang will meet with senior Chinese officials, including the commerce minister. He will also attend the International Supply Chain Expo, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech on global semiconductor collaboration and the role of AI in transforming logistics, health, and transportation.

Nvidia’s influence now extends far beyond gaming and graphic design. The company is a key player in the global AI race, providing essential hardware for data centers and AI research. Its chips are widely used to build generative AI models, such as the large language models that power chatbots, virtual assistants, and predictive analytics. Big tech companies, including Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet, invest heavily in AI infrastructure. A significant portion of this investment is expected to flow into Nvidia’s ecosystem.

Nvidia’s rise has made Huang a prominent figure in global tech diplomacy. How he navigates the US regulatory landscape while working with the realities of the Chinese market will shape the company’s long-term strategy and the broader development path for this powerful new AI technology. Born in Taiwan and raised in the United States, Huang has often served as a bridge between East and West. However, in a world of increasing geopolitical pressure, even his diplomatic skills are being tested. Whether his advocacy for cooperation and open markets will resonate on either side remains to be seen.