Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday as the Trump administration investigates potential violations involving Nvidia chip exports to China, Axios reported. Huang's visit to Washington includes meetings with key lawmakers amid the administration's efforts to finalize a framework for early government access to advanced AI models before their release.
According to a source familiar, Huang's meetings span both sides of the aisle, including discussions with Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee. An Nvidia spokesperson confirmed Huang's presence in D.C. to discuss strengthening the U.S. supply chain through $500 billion in American technology production over four years and maintaining American leadership in AI, including open-source initiatives. The specific details of Huang's conversation with Lutnick were not disclosed.
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security is investigating potential export violations related to Nvidia's Blackwell chips. This inquiry is part of broader U.S. government scrutiny of AI technology exports to China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently mentioned possible regulatory actions against Chinese labs accused of intellectual property theft, highlighting the increasing tension over AI technology transfer and national security concerns.
Huang's meetings come as the Trump administration finalizes policies on AI model access and export controls. The investigation into Nvidia's chip exports and the government's regulatory approach to AI will be closely watched by industry and policymakers alike, with significant implications for U.S.-China technology relations.