Washington:US President Donald Trump has come to the defense of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang amidst reports alleging an affair with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, describing him as an "honorable guy."

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump addressed the situation on Sunday, stating, "I think he's an honorable guy. I think he probably has an excuse for it. You have to hear it. He's done an amazing job for our country." This comes as the US semiconductor company's board of directors is reportedly investigating the relationship.

The New York Times reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was involved in the creation of a classified intelligence memo that warned senior Trump administration officials about Huang's purported connection with a Chinese intelligence operative. This memo, drafted under Rubio's supervision, was circulated among senior national security officials before Trump's state visit to China in May.

The intelligence, reportedly derived from electronic surveillance, involved Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, who has no relation to Jensen Huang. Alice Huang was a senior executive at Megaspeed International, a company under federal investigation for allegedly smuggling semiconductors into China. The investigation sought to identify an American citizen whose communications suggested an intimate relationship with Alice Huang, ultimately identifying Jensen Huang.

US counterintelligence agencies have concluded that China's Ministry of State Security recruited Alice Huang as an operative. Initially, Jensen Huang was excluded from Trump's official business delegation to China, but after media scrutiny, Trump arranged for his inclusion on Air Force One during a refueling stop in Alaska, lauding him as "the Great Jensen Huang."

Trump has reportedly decided against imposing restrictions on Huang or Nvidia, highlighting the chipmaker's importance to US economic competitiveness and financial markets.