Jensen Huang reportedly joins Trump’s China trip after earlier reports said he would skip it

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is now reportedly part of President Donald Trump’s China trip, reversing earlier reports that he would not attend.

Trump is visiting China from May 13 to May 15 for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit is being closely watched because it is the first trip by a US president to China in nearly a decade.

The business delegation already included several major executives, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and leaders from Qualcomm, Citigroup, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, BlackRock, Micron, and Meta. Huang was initially reported to be absent, but New York Post White House correspondent Emily Goodin reportedly confirmed that he boarded Air Force One during a refueling stop in Alaska.

That makes the trip much more important for the AI and semiconductor industry. NVIDIA sits at the center of the global AI hardware market, and China remains one of the most sensitive parts of that business because of US export controls.

NVIDIA currently has no official share in China’s advanced AI accelerator market because its latest AI chips are restricted. The company has also shifted toward a US first strategy, prioritizing Blackwell and Rubin systems for US based AI companies and data centers.

Even so, Huang’s presence matters. The trip is expected to involve discussions around technology, AI, trade, tariffs, and broader business deals. With NVIDIA now reportedly represented, AI chip policy and supply chain issues may be harder to ignore.

Here is the current delegation picture:

The timing is also interesting because the US has recently softened parts of its trade posture toward China after a more aggressive tariff period. That does not mean major restrictions will disappear quickly. Both countries still have strong concerns around AI, semiconductors, Taiwan, national security, and technology independence.

For NVIDIA, any change in China policy would matter. China was once a major market for AI accelerators, but export rules have blocked sales of the most powerful chips. NVIDIA has tried to create compliant products before, but the restrictions have continued to tighten.

Still, NVIDIA is not in the same position as many other companies. Its AI chip demand is already overwhelming supply, especially from US hyperscalers. Even without China, NVIDIA’s Blackwell and Rubin platforms are heavily booked.

That may give Huang more leverage in any discussion. NVIDIA wants access to markets, but China also wants access to advanced AI hardware. The US government, meanwhile, wants to protect strategic technology while keeping American companies competitive.

The trip may not produce immediate semiconductor deals. But Huang joining the delegation shows that AI hardware remains central to US China business talks.

For now, the bigger takeaway is simple. Earlier reports said Jensen Huang was not going. Now he reportedly is. That makes Trump’s China trip a much bigger moment for NVIDIA, AI chips, and the future of US China technology policy.