November 13, 2026
A coalition of 10 progressive and union groups, including Indivisible, American Federation of Teachers and Guardrails Action, have written to Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries asking them to use their oversight powers to investigate links between the Trump administration and ex-Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
“We cannot let Jensen Huang walk away from this. We should not let a corrupt few billionaires and a compromised CEO dictate national policy for their own benefit.”
Huang resigned just one day after it was revealed he had been involved in two affairs, one with a subordinate and another with someone marked by U.S. intelligence as having links to Beijing.
Over the last two years, Huang has built up a close relationship with Donald Trump, leading to pro-Nvidia policies being enacted by the White House, such as allowing exports of AI chips to China.
Nvidia donated $25 million to Trump’s ballroom fund, Jensen flew on Air Force One with the President to China, and attended a state dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The groups also point to reports that he was involved with a suspected foreign intelligence asset, whilst also having links to Megaspeed, a company who have been previously investigated for allegedly smuggling embargoed Nvidia equipment to China. The White House ignored intelligence warnings and an investigation by the Department of Commerce was suddenly ended after pressure from Nvidia’s top lawyer.
The groups are demanding:
Preservation letters are sent to Nvidia, the White House and Department of Commerce on all documents relating to export licenses, Megaspeed investigation, intelligence reports on Alice Huang and the ballroom donation.
An open congressional hearing be held within the first month of the new term with sworn testimony from Jensen Huang, Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Kessler.
They argue that holding the powerful and wealthy AI industry accountable is the most important political fight of our time and are urging congressional Democrats to act in the public interest.
Independent investigations are already happening. As previously reported by Common Dreams, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Richard Neal (D-MA) have opened an investigation into what they called a coordinated attempt by the Trump administration to hide an unconstitutional export tax behind a security tariff which benefits both Nvidia and Beijing.
Wyden and Neal were shocked by the lack of oversight by the department, with licences being given to companies linked to the Chinese military and ghost shops. This has caused tensions within the administration, with CNN reporting Trump’s advisors are considering firing Lutnick. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has publicly blamed Lutnick for allowing high-end chips to be smuggled into China. Axios reported Lutnick has repeatedly blocked attempts to tighten up on companies accused of illegal exports of Nvidia processors and some members of Congress, including Representative Ted Lieu (D-CA), are calling for him to be fired.
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