Trump is claiming ignorance! New York Times: Rubio briefed Jen-Hsun Huang’s female companion on spy charges early, but still invited him to board Air Force One

Trump awarded the National Medal of Science to Huida CEO Jensen Huang on October 8. The New York Times reported that before Trump went to China in May, he was briefed by Rubio on the intelligence of Huang’s female companion involved in espionage, but he still invited Huang to board Air Force One. (Reuters)

Before U.S. President Trump visited China in May this year, he had received a briefing from Secretary of State Rubio about Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang's relationship with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy, but he still invited Huang to board Air Force One. The New York Times disclosed this previously unexposed process on the 10th, contradicting Trump’s claim on the 9th of this month that he was unaware of the incident when he went to China.

The report quoted people familiar with the matter as saying that Huang was not originally on the list of business leaders accompanying Trump during his visit. Trump later temporarily invited Huang to join Air Force One while he was refueling in Alaska. After Rubio learned that Huang would be joining the trip, he immediately verbally briefed Trump on the intelligence the United States had, pointing out that Huang had a close relationship with a woman who U.S. officials believed worked for China's Ministry of State Security. A U.S. government official also confirmed that Rubio explained the matter to Trump at the time.

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Obtained relevant information at least twice within 7 months

The New York Times pointed out that this is at least the second time in seven months that Trump has learned about Huang Renxun’s relationship with the woman. U.S. officials warned Trump late last fall that the woman with whom Huang had an extramarital affair was believed to be working for Chinese intelligence services. Trump chose not to take action at the time.

Before his visit to China in May this year, Rubio presided over the writing of a memorandum about Huang Jen-Hsun, the content of which was circulated to a few high-level government officials. However, people familiar with the matter pointed out that the document was not originally provided to Trump and was not handed to him on Air Force One. After Rubio learned that Huang would join the trip in Alaska, he gave Trump a separate oral briefing.

After Huang Jen-Hsun boarded Air Force One, he only met Trump briefly and spent most of the entire flight in another area on the plane. The report quoted a U.S. government official as saying that Rubio's briefing did not change Trump's decision and Huang was still traveling to Beijing with the delegation.

Trump was asked at a press conference on the 9th of this month whether he knew about Huang's relationship with the woman when he went to China in May. He replied: "No, I didn't hear about it at the time." The media further asked him whether he had received relevant intelligence briefings last fall. Trump said he needed to confirm with intelligence personnel, and said that even if someone mentioned it, it "didn't leave a deep impression."

The White House Press Office refuted the New York Times report in a background email, but did not elaborate further; the U.S. State Department declined to comment. Trump still defended Huang Renxun on the 9th, saying that he had asked Huang Renxun if he knew that the woman was a spy, and Huang Renxun responded that he did not know. Trump also called Huang a "very respectable man" and said he did not plan to raise the matter when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week. Huida has announced that it will launch an independent investigation into Huang Renxun's relationship with the woman.