White House Weighs Lutnick Ouster Over Nvidia Chip Exports
Senior White House officials are discussing whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should go, as the Nvidia chip-export scandal reaches the cabinet.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Cabinet Office of Japan (CC BY 4.0)
Washington, Thursday, November 12, 2026 — Senior White House officials are discussing whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick should be pushed out, as the scandal around Nvidia’s former chief executive Jensen Huang reaches the president’s cabinet.
The discussions come amid mounting criticism of Lutnick’s handling of export controls on chips sold to China. The pressure grew after Huang resigned on Thursday following reports of his relationships with two women, including Alice Huang, a Singapore-based businesswoman whom United States authorities suspect of working for Chinese intelligence.
Key Takeaways
- Senior White House officials have discussed removing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, though no decision has been made.
- The White House said President Donald Trump “maintains complete confidence” in Lutnick.
- The Commerce Department has not added a company to the Entity List since October 2025 — the longest gap in over a decade.
- Megaspeed, the Singapore firm at the scandal’s centre, has bought more than $4.8 billion in Nvidia chips since June 2024.
Why Is Howard Lutnick’s Job at Risk Over Nvidia Chip Exports?
The pressure on Lutnick has built for months. The Commerce Department controls which American technology can be sold to China. It has not added any company to its Entity List — the trade blacklist for sensitive technology — since October 2025, the longest gap in more than a decade. In June, it held off adding DeepSeek, CXMT and more than 100 other flagged companies.
The criticism sharpened after Huang’s resignation. Senators Ron Wyden and Richard Neal wrote to Lutnick on Thursday, saying they were investigating its approval of advanced-chip sales to Chinese companies linked to the Chinese government, military and sanctioned entities. Senator Tom Cotton urged Lutnick to bar CXMT.
What Did Lutnick Do — or Fail to Do — on China Chip Controls?
Lutnick’s critics say his department has slowed the crackdown on chips reaching China. He spent the past year stalling restrictions on companies suspected of diverting Nvidia chips to China, and the issue boiled over in a White House meeting, when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronted him over the failure to place Megaspeed on the Entity List. The Commerce Department denied that the confrontation took place.
Megaspeed has purchased more than $4.8 billion in advanced Nvidia chips since June 2024 and is accused of illegally diverting American-made chips to China. In December 2025, the administration permitted sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China for a share of export revenues — a decision the senators’ letter also questions.
Will Trump Fire Howard Lutnick? What Happens Next
For now, the White House is standing by Lutnick. Its statement said Trump “maintains complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to carry out the position as the most transformative Commerce Secretary in modern history.” It did not address the discussions, and some of the president’s allies have previously raised removing him with Trump directly.
Republican Senator John Kennedy said he did not know yet whether Lutnick should lose his job, but urged him to answer questions and appear before Congress. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said Lutnick and his deputy, Jeffrey Kessler, “must explain why they have not closed export control loopholes.” The Commerce Department is advancing a new rule to limit chip shipments to Southeast Asia.
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| October 2025 | Last additions to the Entity List; no company added since. |
| June 2026 | Holds off adding DeepSeek, CXMT and more than 100 flagged companies. |
| November 12, 2026 | Huang resigns; senators write to Lutnick; White House discusses his future. |
| November 12, 2026 | White House says Trump maintains complete confidence in Lutnick. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Donald Trump fire Howard Lutnick?
Not on the evidence so far. White House officials have discussed removing him, but the White House says Trump maintains complete confidence in him, and no decision has been announced.
Why is Howard Lutnick under fire over Nvidia chip exports?
Lawmakers say his department has failed to stop advanced American chips reaching China. It has not added a company to the Entity List since October 2025.
What is the Entity List and why does it matter for Nvidia?
The Entity List is the United States trade blacklist. Companies on it cannot buy sensitive American technology without a licence, so adding a firm cuts off its supply of advanced chips.
Who would replace Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary?
No successor has been named or publicly discussed. Lutnick remains in the post, and the White House says he keeps the president’s confidence.
