Taiwanese sentiment cools toward Nvidia chief: FBI probe complicates local ties
Local business owners and officials in Taipei reassess their relationship with Jensen Huang following the FBI investigation into his link with Alice Huang.
By Leah Thompson ·
The public affection for Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in his birthplace of Taiwan has dimmed as the FBI investigation into his relationship with Alice Huang intensifies. Locals who once treated the 63-year-old tech executive as a rock star are now questioning whether he can return with the same welcome. This shift in attitude follows a viral video from 2025 showing Huang dining with the Chinese businesswoman in Taipei, a clip that circulated globally.
Huang was born in Taiwan and spent his early childhood there before moving to the United States for school. He has maintained a regular presence in the region for business events. His image was previously spotless. Jane Hsieh, a 70-year-old tofu pudding shop owner in Taipei, displayed photos of Huang at her store for years. She described the news as shocking and expressed regret over the change in his public standing.
Hsieh noted that while she would remain polite if Huang returned to her shop, the dynamic would feel awkward. She said she would no longer see him as the familiar person they used to know. Resident Jeff Huang, 72, observed that customers are already asking for photos of the CEO to be removed from local businesses. He stated that Huang fell from grace quickly after the allegations of a personal moral scandal and corporate espionage surfaced.
Taiwanese authorities are reviewing the logistics of the couple's presence in the region. Karen Kuo, the presidential office spokesperson, confirmed that national security agencies have complete knowledge of the pair's travel itinerary. Local media reported that Jensen Huang visited Taiwan for two weeks between May and June this year, with a short stopover in August. Chiu Chui-cheng, the Mainland Affairs Council Minister, clarified that Alice Huang entered the island using Hong Kong status, despite being originally from mainland China.
Alice Huang had previously worked at HSBC’s Hong Kong private banking arm and CITIC Securities. She later became a director at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based firm that identifies as an Nvidia cloud partner. The Central News Agency reported that she entered Taiwan eight times in 2024 and 2025. There is no record of her entry this year. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang announced that Huang's entry permit has been revoked, barring her from future visits.
Liu stated that the National Immigration Agency is cooperating with security authorities to investigate events during Huang's time in Taiwan. She said officials are actively looking into questions surrounding Megaspeed and the businesswoman. Beijing has pushed back against the spy allegations, calling them unsubstantiated. President Donald Trump said Monday that the FBI is investigating the affair but believes Jensen Huang did not know the woman was a spy.
Jensen Huang has acknowledged the affair in an open letter on Nvidia’s website, apologizing to his wife and the company. The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence determined the woman was gathering information for Beijing. The investigation continues as local officials and residents process the implications of the scandal on a figure who was once a symbol of technological success in Taiwan.
