Axios

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[Maria Curi @m_ccuri]

NEW: The world is wondering why the Trump administration has not taken action against the company at the center of suspected Nvidia chip smuggling and an espionage scandal involving CEO Jensen Huang.

Six high-level sources all pointed to one administration official who they say has repeatedly stood in the way: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

w/@MarcACaputo

https://t.co/0Nr1eRtEdG

[Marc Caputo @MarcACaputo]

In the Oval Office, Trump authorized China export controls on Nvidia's advanced AI chips — even consulting Elon Musk before giving the go-ahead Thursday

But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has stood in the way

W/@m_ccuri on what happened

https://t.co/dchpU6lZZT

[Axios @axios]

Outgoing Trump foe Massie forces new Epstein files showdown https://t.co/WEwgwgE4kF

[Axios @axios]

SCOOP: President Trump authorized a crackdown on companies suspected of diverting Nvidia's advanced AI chips to China on Thursday, but one administration official repeatedly stood in the way: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. https://t.co/5Duzi14eEp

[Axios @axios]

Scoop: U.S. asks Russia to propose new security agreement with Europe https://t.co/0QKIZeGTDE

[Maria Curi @m_ccuri]

Details from inside the room w/@MarcACaputo: At a White House Situation Room meeting on Thursday after the midterm elections, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on why Megaspeed had not been added to the Commerce Department's entity list.

Lutnick initially stammered, sources said, and then replied: ""I don't know. I'll look into it."

Commerce Undersecretary Jeff Kessler also was repeatedly warned about Megaspeed in deputy meetings but deferred to Lutnick: "That's a decision for the secretary."

WHY IT MATTERS: The Commerce Department oversees the export of sensitive U.S. technologies and Lutnick's actions — or lack thereof — are increasingly under scrutiny following revelations that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had an affair with Megaspeed employee and suspected Chinese spy Alice Huang.

https://t.co/e6OYLeDlBV

[Alex Isenstadt @axiosalex]

NEW: Stephen Miller wants to win back the young men who helped elect Trump in ‘24 but swung toward Dems in ‘26

What he’s telling allies about his priorities: https://t.co/0Ry9SBY9kL

[Marc Caputo @MarcACaputo]

In the White House situation room, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over lack of action cracking down on Megaspeed, the company where a suspected Chinese spy was having an affair w/NVIDIA’s leader

@m_ccuri & I
https://t.co/oI6AUaIRJv

[Axios @axios]

Scoop: Inside Bessent's Situation Room confrontation with Lutnick over China chip security https://t.co/GfY95HsnLU

[Axios @axios]

SCOOP: Inside Bessent's Situation Room confrontation with Lutnick over China chip security https://t.co/UoJZbx3Ebk

[Axios @axios]

NEW: Stephen Miller wants to use his new role as White House chief of staff to win back young and minority men who helped elect President Trump in 2024 but swung toward Democrats in the midterms. https://t.co/DIZPKXJiCz

[Axios @axios]

Don Leonard isn't a House member yet. He's already rocking Capitol Hill. https://t.co/erMQQZxNMR

[Axios @axios]

The AI industry's week from hell https://t.co/QGUntzOHrA

[Axios @axios]

Dems put Noem on notice https://t.co/uGnje14Oge

[Axios @axios]

House GOP bets on MAGA "fighter" Jim Jordan https://t.co/XbSIRh372m

[Axios @axios]

Scoop — Stephen Miller's post-midterm focus: MAGA and men https://t.co/vHUoyxm5Yr

[Axios @axios]

The Democratic leadership revolt has a glaring problem https://t.co/zHYYRTt3So

[Axios @axios]

"Rome is burning": Incoming House Democrats prove unusually willing to defy leaders https://t.co/LklCgUyshZ

[Maria Curi @m_ccuri]

SCOOP: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was sent a highly classified memo warning about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with suspected Chinese spy Alice Huang.

Lutnick oversees the agency charged with keeping sensitive U.S. technology out of the hands of American adversaries. The warning raises questions about how the department weighed potential security risks as it cleared advanced Nvidia chip sales to China-affiliated entities.

W/@MarcACaputo

https://t.co/ngS7TZhg4J

[Axios @axios]

Scoop: Commerce Department received national security warning on Nvidia CEO affair https://t.co/mW6cEIKp6z