President Donald Trump has suggested that Apple executive chair Tim Cook replace Jensen Huang as the leader of Nvidia. This proposal follows Huang’s resignation and Washington’s scrutiny of the chipmaker’s security.
Huang resigned Thursday as CEO, president, and board member of the company he co-founded in 1993. Beijing has denied the spying allegations, but the scandal has caused political fallout. Media outlets linked the resignation to scrutiny of personal relationships, though no claims have been judicially established. President Trump said Huang is an “honorable guy” and a “good person” who likely did not know of the woman’s alleged espionage background.
Trump shared his recommendation on Truth Social shortly after the resignation. “NOW THAT Nvidia CEO JENSEN HUANG, who has done a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place – TIM COOK of Apple. A Legend replaces a Legend!” the president wrote.
That would be an honor
Apple announced that Cook will move to a role where he will be “engaging with policymakers around the world.”
Nvidia confirmed the departure in an SEC filing on November 12, 2026. CFO Colette Kress is interim CEO while the board evaluates internal and external candidates. The board must decide if the firm’s future is a technical, commercial, or geopolitical challenge.
Jensen Huang’s decision to resign from NVIDIA does not absolve him, other executives, or the company as a whole of responsibility for putting our national security at risk or for any potential violations of our laws. They still owe Congress answers.
Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the Select Committee on China, said the company must change its practices to prioritize national security.
Other names circulated for the job include OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor, Arm Holdings CEO Rene Haas, AMD CEO Lisa Su, Apple’s Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Schmidt has ties to the military-industry complex. Observers said his history of extramarital affairs could mirror the challenges faced by the outgoing CEO.
Nvidia’s success relied on its government relations. The company committed $26 million to Trump’s projects in Washington. This includes $25 million for a ballroom and $1 million for the president’s inaugural fund.
The board must now balance these political ties with technical demands. The AI industry remains concerned about a potential market bubble. It is not yet known who the board will choose as the permanent successor or when that decision will be final.
