Key facts
- Kalanick's post did not name Huang or Nvidia, and he did not respond to a request for comment on whether he had Huang in mind.
- The New York Times reported last month that US intelligence officials believed Alice Huang was acting as a spy for the Chinese government.
- Kalanick's guide urged cutting off anyone suspected of disloyalty and building a team of "close and loyal patriots."
- Kalanick advised downloading Telegram for "all sensitive communications."
- Uber investors pressured Kalanick to resign as CEO in 2017 after a series of scandals.
Travis Kalanick, Uber's cofounder and ex-CEO, posted a 12-point guide on X on November 9, 2026 for countering what he called a "modern-day coup/psyop/struggle session." He did not name Jensen Huang or Nvidia in the post, but it appeared as scrutiny intensified over Huang's admission that he had an extramarital affair.
At the center of the saga is Alice Huang, whom The New York Times reported last month was believed by US intelligence officials to be acting as a spy for the Chinese government. Jensen Huang's admission that he was "unfaithful" to his wife of over 40 years has prompted Nvidia to launch an independent investigation into whether he was the "target of a foreign intelligence effort."
Nvidia's board has said it has confidence in his leadership, though the scandal has raised questions about whether he will remain CEO of the $4.5 trillion AI chipmaker. Kalanick did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether he may have had Jensen Huang in mind.
In his post, Kalanick detailed principles including finding the "enemies at the very root of the op," cutting off anyone suspected of disloyalty, and building a team of "close and loyal patriots" with one who can run a "well-resourced war room." He also urged carrying on with "business as usual" and advised downloading Telegram for "all sensitive communications."
Uber investors pressured Kalanick to resign as the ride-hailing company's CEO in 2017 after a series of scandals roiled the company.