Nvidia CEO Huang Declines Senate Testimony on China AI Chip Sales

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has turned down an invitation from Senator Elizabeth Warren to testify before the Senate Banking Committee, declining to answer questions about the chipmaker's China operations and his views on U.S. export restrictions for advanced AI technology.

The hearing, scheduled for this Thursday and titled "AI and the American Dream: Promoting Innovation, Affordability, and American Dominance," will proceed without one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence. Huang informed Warren he would be "unable to attend" the session focused on American AI development and technological competitiveness.

Why it matters

Nvidia controls the infrastructure powering the global AI boom, making Huang's positions on export policy directly consequential for both U.S. national security and the commercial AI market. His absence from congressional testimony comes as Washington weighs whether to expand or restrict sales of advanced chips to China—a debate that will shape the geopolitical balance of AI capabilities for years to come.

Growing Washington pressure

The exchange, first reported by CNBC, highlights mounting political scrutiny of Nvidia's role in global AI competition. Policymakers are actively debating whether advanced AI chips should be available internationally or restricted to prevent adversaries like China from accessing cutting-edge American technology.

These questions took center stage during President Donald Trump's May trip to Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Huang was among the group of CEOs who accompanied Trump on that visit.

Warren criticized Huang's decision in pointed terms: "If Mr. Huang has time to attend a $1 million-a-head dinner at Mar-a-Lago and fly across the world to meet with President Xi Jinping of China, he should be able to find time to answer questions from Congress."

Huang's position on export controls

In his letter declining the invitation, Huang emphasized Nvidia's long-standing commitment to American AI leadership. He noted that Nvidia "designed, built, and delivered the first AI supercomputer to American researchers over a decade ago" and has worked to keep U.S. researchers and businesses at the forefront of AI technology.

Huang, who serves on Trump's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, has consistently advocated for allowing American companies to compete in Chinese and other foreign markets. In December remarks to reporters, he argued that "we should ensure that American companies have the best and the most and first," while adding that "we should offer the most competitive chips we can to the Chinese market."

Warren has previously criticized those statements, warning that Huang's lobbying "could turbocharge China's military and undercut American technological leadership."

Huang extended an invitation for Warren or any committee member to visit Nvidia's Santa Clara, California headquarters to discuss the company's technology and the American AI ecosystem.

Details were first reported by CNBC.