Jensen Huang summoned to testify before US Senate committee

U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott sent letters on Thursday to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Nvidia's former CEO Jensen Huang asking them to testify over recent developments at the company.

Huang stepped down from Nvidia, one of the major engines behind the AI boom, after reports of a romantic relationship with a businesswoman named Alice Huang whom U.S. authorities suspect of spying for the Chinese government.

In addition, a growing number of lawmakers have criticized Lutnick for the administration's refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a key U.S. trade blacklist, and over whether the government was properly overseeing Nvidia's exports to China.

"Recent reports raise serious concerns about our national security and the protection of sensitive U.S. technology," Scott wrote on X. "I am requesting that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testify before the Senate Banking Committee."

Jensen Huang (L) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the White House in July 2026. Photo by Reuters

Spokespeople for Huang and Lutnick could not immediately be reached.

Scott said he would consider subpoenaing Huang if he does not voluntarily appear. "The American people deserve answers," Scott said.

Senior White House officials were separately discussing whether Lutnick should be pushed out, two people familiar with the situation said, as the desire to take action rose across Washington.

Separately, the chairs of three House committees, including the head of the Foreign Affairs panel, Brian Mast, wrote to Huang and Nvidia General Counsel Tim Teter, requiring them to appear for closed-door transcribed interviews on Dec. 1 and 2, respectively, or face subpoenas to compel their appearances.

"There are clear national security concerns that need to be addressed immediately," Mast, as well as House China Select Committee Chair John Moolenaar and House Intelligence Committee Chair Rick Crawford, wrote in the letter.

They also asked Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler to testify at a Dec. 3 hearing.

China has denied Alice Huang is a spy and U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Thursday that the Justice Department has not yet reached a conclusion on whether she is or not. Alice Huang could not be reached for comment.