Trump says Apple's Tim Cook should replace Jensen Huang as Nvidia CEO - USA Today

WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump said Tim Cook, executive chairman of Apple, should be tapped as the new president and CEO of Nvidia after Jensen Huang's resignation.

Trump proposed the idea in his first public statement on the departure of Huang, who resigned from Nvidia after mounting scrutiny amid an investigation into an extramarital relationship with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy.

"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 said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump, a strong proponent of artificial intelligence pushed by tech companies, is close allies of both Huang and Cook. Both men attended a White House State Dinner in September for Chinese President Xi Jinping and sat together at the same table. Huang and Cook were also part of Trump's entourage during Trump's visit to China in May.

Cook on Sept. 1 stepped down as CEO of Apple, a role he had since 2011, to become the company's executive chairman. The transition was announced in April.

Colette Kress, Nvidia's chief financial officer, will serve as the company's interim CEO while the board of directors begins a search for Huang's permanent successor, Nvidia said in a Nov. 12 news release.

Nvidia opened an investigation into Huang's affair after he acknowledged being "unfaithful" to his wife and apologized to his family. His admission followed a New York Times story reporting he had a romantic relationship with Alice Huang, a Singapore-based tech executive whom U.S. intelligence officials suspect of spying for China. 

Earlier this week, Trump defended Jensen Huang as "an honorable guy" following initial reports on the affair and predicted the executive would be in "good shape" despite the FBI opening an investigation into the matter.