The billionaire chief executive of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, has joined Donald Trump’s high-stakes China delegation after a last-minute invitation, underscoring the central role of American semiconductor and artificial intelligence ambitions in the trip. Huang’s presence aboard Air Force One was confirmed by the US president on his social media platform, Truth Social, after initial reports suggested the Nvidia boss had not been included on the business roster. According to Trump, news outlet CNBC had “incorrectly reported that the Great Jensen Huang, of Nvidia, was not invited to the incredible gathering of the World’s Greatest Businessmen/women proudly going to China. In actuality, Jensen is currently on Air Force One.”
Huang’s invitation came late. He was not on the original list of delegates, according to reports, and Trump personally called him after seeing media coverage of his absence. Huang then flew to Alaska to board the presidential plane. An Nvidia spokesperson said: “Jensen is attending the summit at the invitation of President Trump to support America and the administration’s goals.” The move places one of the most influential figures in the global technology industry at the centre of a 36-hour meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump’s delegation includes a roster of prominent US chief executives: Elon Musk of Tesla and X, Apple’s Tim Cook, Goldman Sachs’s David Solomon, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, Citi’s Jane Fraser, Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick, Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon, and Micron’s Sanjay Mehrotra. The group of 16 executives is smaller than the 27-strong delegation Trump took to China in 2017. Notable absences include Cisco’s Chuck Robbins, who was invited but could not attend because of the company’s earnings schedule. No oil and gas leaders are among the delegates. Only two women — Fraser and Powell McCormick — are part of the delegation.
The summit is Trump’s first overseas trip since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. Key topics expected on the agenda include the conflict in Iran, tariffs, and China’s relationship with Taiwan. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would ask President Xi, whom he described as “a leader of extraordinary distinction”, to “open up” China so that the visiting business figures “can work their magic, and help bring the People’s Republic to an even higher level!” Boeing’s Ortberg is reportedly close to finalising a potential order of up to 500 aircraft from China, a deal that could revive the company’s relationship with Chinese carriers. Jane Fraser’s attendance is notable as Citi has been winding down its consumer banking in China while maintaining institutional ties. The broader context is one of strained US-China relations, particularly over semiconductors. Washington has imposed restrictions on Nvidia’s advanced chip exports to China, while Beijing is working to boost its domestic tech sector. The US recently secured an agreement with Taiwan to reduce tariffs and boost investments in semiconductors and AI, aiming to reshore semiconductor production.
Huang’s inclusion is especially significant because Nvidia’s chips have been driving the artificial intelligence boom. The company’s market capitalisation has surged past $5.3 trillion, making it the most valuable publicly traded company. Nvidia’s stock has seen a strong run due to sustained demand for AI infrastructure and chips. Huang has been pushing for greater access to the Chinese market, which he has described as a $50bn (£36.9bn) opportunity. At the same time, Nvidia has navigated US export controls that limit the sale of its most advanced chips to China, though certain models have been allowed under specific conditions. China is actively pursuing self-sufficiency in its tech sector. Huang himself was born in Taiwan and moved to the US for his education, co-founding Nvidia in 1993. He enjoys a celebrity status in Taiwan, often referred to as “Jensanity”, and is known for his hands-on management style.
Huang’s personal wealth has been a subject of attention. Earlier this week he was declared the world’s seventh richest person, overtaking Dell founder Michael Dell, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaires list. His net worth hit $191.5bn on Monday, driven by the rising value of his roughly 3% stake in Nvidia. His net worth has fluctuated in recent months, reaching $165.8bn in February 2026 and $137.4bn in June 2025. Over Nvidia’s 2026 financial year, Huang’s pay package fell by 27% to $36.6m, a decline attributed to a drop in the company’s stock value last year as investors were spooked by chatter over an AI market bubble.
