Key facts
- Two people familiar with the situation said senior White House officials are discussing whether Lutnick should be pushed out.
- Lawmakers criticized Lutnick over the refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a key US trade blacklist.
- Lawmakers also criticized Lutnick over whether the government was properly overseeing Nvidia's exports to China.
- Nvidia's Jensen Huang announced on November 12 he would step down as CEO after revelations of an affair with Alice Huang.
- US authorities suspect Alice Huang of spying for Beijing, according to the report.
- A White House official said Trump maintains complete confidence in Lutnick and his ability to carry out the position.
Senior White House officials are discussing whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should be pushed out, two people familiar with the situation said on November 12, 2026, in the fallout from the spy scandal surrounding Nvidia's now former CEO Jensen Huang.
A growing number of lawmakers criticized Lutnick over the administration's refusal to add dozens of Chinese companies to a key US trade blacklist, and over whether the government was properly overseeing Nvidia's exports to China. That criticism predates Huang's resignation on November 12.
Huang announced he would step down as CEO of the AI chipmaker after revelations of an affair with Alice Huang, whom US authorities suspect of spying for Beijing. The charge that Lutnick has not done enough to restrict AI chip shipments to China has grown as the fallout from Huang's actions widened, Reuters reported.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Lutnick's future. A White House official said of criticism of Lutnick that President Donald Trump "maintains complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to carry out the position."