# Huang's grip on Trump reshapes AI chip sales to China

> Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has become Trump's closest adviser on AI, steering policy toward looser China restrictions and away from safety concerns.
- Title: Huang's grip on Trump reshapes AI chip sales to China
- Summary: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has become Trump's closest adviser on AI, steering policy toward looser China restrictions and away from safety concerns. Nvidia CEO…
- Keywords: nvidia, jensen huang, donald trump, china, ai chips, export controls, ai safety, h200, rtx pro 5500, alibaba, bytedance, technology
- Source: Ars Technica — https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/nvidia-may-sell-more-chips-in-china-as-jensen-huangs-influence-over-trump-grows
- Published: 2026-09-28T21:49:10+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: nvidia, jensen huang, donald trump, china, ai chips, export controls, ai safety, h200, rtx pro 5500, alibaba, bytedance, technology
## Trump and Xi extend trade truce, skip AI rules
A recent summit between Donald Trump and China's president Xi Jinping extended a trade truce for two months but did not address export controls on AI chips.
## China considers relaxing Nvidia chip restrictions
Behind the scenes, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology asked Alibaba and ByteDance to share plans to import millions more of Nvidia's banned chips.
## Gaming chips could power China's AI models
China asked firms to detail how they plan to use Nvidia's RTX Pro five thousand five hundred gaming chips, expecting them to be installed in servers for AI development.
## Huang's influence over Trump grows rapidly
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang increasingly advises Trump on AI policy, but critics worry his profit motives may be steering the president's thinking on technology risks.
## Trump initially opposed Nvidia, then reversed course
Trump entered office asking what Nvidia was and tightened export controls. After meeting Huang at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said he learned the facts and lifted restrictions on H two hundred chips.
## Trump and Huang now speak regularly by phone
Since their dinner, Trump and Huang have appeared together publicly repeatedly and talk regularly by phone, according to author Stephen Witt.
## Huang's talking points match Trump's AI claims
Trump's recent claims that AI risks are a hoax and AI will be an economic boon are exactly Jensen's talking points, Witt told NPR.

> exactly Jensen's talking points
## Hardware makers downplay AI safety risks
Most hardware designers and microchip makers, like Huang, have a low sense of risk about AI, while software developers urge the White House to take safety seriously.
## Treasury Secretary confirms Huang's influence
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the president is completely aligned with Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia.

> the president is completely aligned with Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia
## ByteDance plans to order one million chips
If China approves gaming chip sales, ByteDance plans to order one million RTX Pro fifty five hundred chips, securing two quarters of Nvidia's projected sales.
## Nvidia's China sales have collapsed
China's delayed approval of H two hundred sales meant sales were dismal, comprising less than one percent of Nvidia's data center revenue in the most recent quarter.
## Huang dismisses AI model copying as competition
While the FBI accuses Chinese firms of copying US AI models, Huang argues distillation is not robbery but competition, and firms could disable services to block it if they wanted.

> not robbery
## Witt explains Huang's strategy with Trump
Huang has realized that Trump's inputs are flattery, and the outputs are lifting restrictions on Nvidia sales to China and zero regulation on AI.

> the inputs for Trump are, like, flattery, like, public flattery, nonstop public flattery
## Trump claims only he can control AI safely
Trump posted on Truth Social that the only control AI needs is a strong and smart president, and the USA has that in spades.

> The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT
## China expected to approve chip sales soon
Sources told The Information that China intends to allow at least some gaming chips into the country, with Nvidia preparing to ship first orders this December.
## Huang's influence may reshape global AI policy
If Huang gets his way, Chinese firms will buy millions more Nvidia chips, helping the firm maintain global dominance while Trump avoids serious AI safety talks with China.
## Key takeaway

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has gained Trump's ear on AI policy, leading the president to lift export controls and downplay safety risks while China prepares to buy millions more Nvidia chips.