White House weighs removing Commerce Secretary Lutnick after Nvidia scandal

Senior White House officials are debating whether to remove Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick following an espionage scandal involving Nvidia's former CEO Jensen Huang, who resigned Thursday, according to two sources cited by Reuters. Lutnick faces intensifying scrutiny from lawmakers over the administration's reluctance to blacklist dozens of Chinese firms and questions about oversight of Nvidia's exports to China. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Coons have demanded explanations and preservation of documents related to advanced AI chip sales. Criticism of Lutnick predates Huang's resignation, with concerns over failure to curb chip transfers to China. The trade blacklist has seen no additions since October 2025, the longest gap in over a decade, amid tensions between the two countries.