Trump says Tim Cook is the only man who can replace Jensen Huang as Nvidia CEO

Detailed summary

Hours after Jensen Huang resigned from Nvidia in the wake of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to suggest that Tim Cook was the only person capable of taking over from the AI chip giant's longtime chief.

US President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind an unexpected candidate to replace Jensen Huang as Nvidia CEO -- Apple executive chairman Tim Cook. Just hours after Huang resigned from Nvidia in the wake of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy, Trump took to Truth Social to suggest that Cook was the only person capable of taking over from the AI chip giant's longtime chief.

"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!" Trump wrote. Cook, 65, stepped down as Apple's chief executive in August and moved into the role of executive chairman.

Nvidia has appointed Colette Kress, its executive vice president and chief financial officer, as interim CEO. The company's board is searching for a permanent successor and is expected to consider both internal and external candidates.

Huang's departure has created a big leadership vacuum at one of the most strategically important technology companies in the world. Nvidia sits at the centre of the global artificial intelligence boom, supplying the advanced processors used by major technology companies to build and operate AI systems. Its chips have also become a major point of contention in the US-China technology rivalry.

That makes the question of who replaces Huang bigger than a routine CEO transition.

Trump has previously spoken favourably of Huang and has repeatedly defended Nvidia's role in the US technology sector. However, there is no indication that Cook has been approached or is being considered by Nvidia's board.

Huang's resignation has also brought renewed attention to a separate battle inside the Trump administration over Nvidia's business in China. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has faced criticism over his handling of restrictions on US technology exports to China, particularly those involving Nvidia's advanced AI chips.

According to Reuters, the White House moved Thursday to defend…

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