Silicon Valley Backs Jensen Huang Comeback, but Washington Influence Fades

Nvidia founder Jensen Huang resigned just one day ago, and while Silicon Valley leaders are already anticipating his comeback, Washington national security hawks are preparing to demand he testify before Congress over an alleged affair with a woman linked to Chinese intelligence. Huang, a close ally of President Trump and one of tech's most influential Washington figures, retains roughly $145 billion in net worth and strong industry backing. Defense tech founder Palmer Luckey and Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas have publicly supported him, while Elon Musk has floated hiring him. Five tech insiders expect him to return to a major leadership role, though some say starting his own company may be easier than joining an existing one. His political influence was tied largely to the Trump administration and faces natural limits approaching the 2028 election. Skepticism over the espionage claims is growing, with former Trump AI chief David Sacks noting the spy narrative is "starting to crumble." Huang has agreed to testify at an upcoming House hearing, which could help restore his credibility in Washington.