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Lawmakers press Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Nvidia chips as White House backs him

Reuters, citing two sources, says White House officials are debating whether to remove him, and Sen. Jim Banks wants him to testify ASAP.

Howard Lutnick in January 2025
Howard Lutnick in January 2025. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
36 news outlets reported this
Liberal15 outletsLutnick's ties and inaction, with his job in questionCenter10 outletsLutnick under pressure over chip export inactionConservative11 outletsRepublican doubts and Democratic investigation plans around Lutnick
ABRAnews EditorialPublished 1 min read
Overview

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faces pressure from lawmakers of both parties over federal oversight of Nvidia's chip sales to China. Jensen Huang resigned as Nvidia's CEO on Thursday after reports of affairs, including one with Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed whom US agencies suspect of spying for Beijing. Axios reports that Lutnick repeatedly stalled steps against firms suspected of diverting Nvidia chips to China, even after Trump approved action.

According to RedState, a Commerce Department spokesperson denied that a White House confrontation over this took place. Two sources told Reuters that senior White House officials are debating whether to remove Lutnick. A White House official said Trump "maintains complete confidence" in him.

Commerce has not added a company to its Entity List, a trade blacklist, since October 2025. Sen. Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, called for Lutnick to testify before the Banking Committee ASAP. Sen. John Kennedy said Lutnick needs to answer questions.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler and Lutnick owe an explanation for failing to shut export control loopholes. House Democrats Ted Lieu and Ro Khanna want an investigation of Lutnick.

Key figures
  • more than $4.8 billionadvanced Nvidia AI chips bought by Megaspeed since June 2024The Independent
  • over 100 additional firmsfirms besides DeepSeek and CXMT flagged as national security risks and not placed on the trade blacklist, per Reuters' June reportingThe Independent
  • at least three separate occasionstimes Trump approved action but Lutnick stalled, per AxiosRedState

Three sides of the story

15Liberal10Center11Conservative

36 news outlets reported this

Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.

Liberal15 outlets

Lutnick's ties and inaction, with his job in question

CBS News reports that Lutnick faces questions over whether his business ties in China and his friendship with Huang help explain the agency's lack of oversight as Nvidia sold billions of dollars in chips. It quotes Chris McGuire of the Council on Foreign Relations: "The real scandal here is the lack of enforcement of export controls." The Independent, relaying Reuters, leads with two sources saying senior White House officials are debating whether Lutnick should be removed, and adds the White House statement of "complete confidence."

Axios headlines that Trump sticks by Lutnick despite Nvidia inaction. It also cites an administration official who calls it "impossible" that Lutnick did not know about the intelligence memo, and quotes Kennedy and Warren. The Daily Beast centers on Banks, a Trump-endorsed Republican, calling for Lutnick to testify, and on his agreement with Warren, a Democrat, on this issue.

Center10 outlets

Lutnick under pressure over chip export inaction

The Journal reports that some of Trump's top advisers have started shifting blame toward Lutnick, who faces pressure for failing to act on chip-export controls and for friction with other senior officials. The Hill and Forbes both report that Sen. Jim Banks wants Lutnick to testify, with The Hill noting his accusation that Lutnick used a "loophole." Forbes adds that a growing bipartisan group of lawmakers is asking why Lutnick agreed to let Nvidia sell chips to China.

Conservative11 outlets

Republican doubts and Democratic investigation plans around Lutnick

The Washington Examiner says "the knives are out" for Lutnick. It reports that Republicans want him to testify, by if necessary. It quotes Kennedy, " is not going to let this go," and notes that Cramer declined to say he has confidence in Lutnick.

RedState retells Axios's account of Lutnick stalling export controls. It says it can confirm the memo was shared with administration officials but could not confirm the information reached Trump himself. It also notes the Commerce spokesperson's denial and Todd Blanche's "I don't have concerns with the Commerce Department."

Fox News leads with an exclusive: House Democrats Ted Lieu and Ro Khanna want Lutnick investigated. It adds that neither Lutnick nor Rubio has been formally accused of wrongdoing, and that Rep. John Moolenaar says Huang agreed to brief Congress.

All sources: 61 articles from 36 outlets

Liberal (29)

Center (15)

Conservative (17)

Related
  1. Trump says Nvidia CEO didn't know his affair partner was a suspected spy
  2. Axios: Commerce Secretary got classified warning on Nvidia CEO's link to suspected spy
  3. Nvidia CEO Huang resigns, and lawmakers say he'll brief Congress on alleged spy
  4. Lawmakers press Commerce Secretary Lutnick on Nvidia chips as White House backs himThis story
  5. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns, and the CFO takes over as interim chief
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