Bessent Blames Commerce in Nvidia Fallout as Lutnick’s Job is Questioned

WHO:

Alternet - CNN correspondent Jamie Gangel said Lutnick’s tenure was “on borrowed time” and that Trump’s confidence could change; CNN Senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes said some administration members consider Lutnick a liability.

Alternet - CNN correspondent Jamie Gangel said Lutnick had “been on borrowed time for a while” and that Trump’s confidence in him could change.

Alternet - CNN Senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes said some administration members view Lutnick as a liability and have complained that he speaks out of turn and is too physically close to Trump.

CNN - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused the Commerce Department, led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, of failing to act on concerns about Nvidia customer Megaspeed.

CNN - President Donald Trump’s advisers discussed whether Lutnick should be dismissed, according to people familiar with the conversations. Administration officials and outside advisers also raised concerns about Lutnick with Trump.

CNN - The White House said Trump “maintains complete confidence in the secretary and his ability to carry out the position as the most transformative Commerce Secretary in modern history.” Trump and Lutnick are longtime friends.

CNN - Bessent said the Treasury and State departments, the Pentagon, and the US Trade Representative favored placing Megaspeed on an export blacklist.

CNN - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigned. Senior Trump officials, including Lutnick, had been briefed about Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive.

CNN - The article said Alice Huang was suspected of having intelligence connections to China.

Newsweek - A poll asked whether President Donald Trump should fire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Drudge Report - A headline said Bessent blamed Commerce for not restricting NVIDIA exports and listed “Lutnick future in doubt” among related stories.

WHAT:

Alternet - CNN correspondent Jamie Gangel said, “The president has said he has complete confidence in Lutnick until he doesn’t.”

Alternet - CNN Senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes said Lutnick “puts his foot in his mouth too much,” and described him as “always around” Trump.

BBC - The BBC’s report questioned whether Nvidia knew its customer and had made robust efforts to prevent chips from being diverted through “pass-through shell companies.”

Rolling Stone Politics - The article characterized Lutnick’s treatment of Jensen Huang as lenient and reported that Lutnick’s colleagues were unhappy about it.

CBS News Tech - Megaspeed denied wrongdoing, and China denied the spying allegations involving Alice Huang.

Alternet - Gangel said national security and intelligence experts were asking what Lutnick knew, when he knew it, and what he did about it.

Alternet - Holmes said sources had not indicated which way Trump was leaning on Lutnick’s future.

Alternet - Gangel said national security and intelligence experts were asking what Lutnick knew, when he knew it, and what he did about it.

Alternet - Holmes said sources had not indicated which way Trump was leaning on Lutnick’s future.

CNN - Bessent said Commerce “has the pen” and added, “You would have to ask them about their internal processes.”

CNN - Bessent said Trump had made clear “that China should not receive any Nvidia chips above A100s,” describing A100 as an entry-level chip.

CNN - Bessent said any leakage was “very frustrating because it hurts our great companies in the AI race, gives the Chinese an advantage.”

CNN - Bessent did not deny challenging Lutnick over the department’s reluctance to blacklist Megaspeed. He said, “We don’t repeat conversations in the Situation Room.”

CNN - CNN reported that Commerce had not placed Megaspeed on its entity list, which covers China-connected companies that could pose national security risks.

Newsweek - The poll described the issue as Lutnick letting Nvidia sell to a firm with alleged links to spies.

WHERE:

CNN - Bessent discussed the matter on CNBC. The reported confrontation with Lutnick took place in the Situation Room.

WHEN:

CNN - A tense Situation Room meeting between Bessent and Lutnick occurred last week, according to CNN’s earlier reporting.

CNN - Officials had been briefed about Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang months earlier.

CNN - The White House issued its statement Thursday, before Bessent’s comments; Bessent spoke on CNBC Friday.

WHY:

BBC - The report asked whether Nvidia knew its client and made a robust effort to ensure chips were not diverted through “pass-through shell companies.”

Alternet - CNN correspondent Jamie Gangel said Lutnick’s alleged inaction mattered because it raised questions about whether the system for safeguarding sensitive US technology was working.

CBS News Tech - CBS News reported that Megaspeed was once led by Alice Huang.

Alternet - Alternet said the allegations concerning Alice Huang’s intelligence ties had not been proven.

CNN - Treasury staff argued Megaspeed should be added to the entity list because officials suspected it had circumvented US law and funneled advanced chips into China.

CNN - Bessent said the alleged leakage of Nvidia chips could harm US companies in the AI race and give China an advantage.

HOW:

CNN - Bessent said multiple administration departments and the US Trade Representative supported blacklisting Megaspeed, but Commerce had not followed through.

CNN - Bessent said Trump’s direction was that China should not receive Nvidia chips above the A100 level.

(UPDATED November 14, 2026 09:58 UTC)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Commerce of failing to blacklist chip customer Megaspeed over China concerns. Trump’s advisers have discussed firing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, though the White House says he retains confidence. Officials warn leaked Nvidia chips could benefit China.

(UPDATED November 14, 2026 04:00 UTC)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Commerce of failing to blacklist Megaspeed over suspected chip diversions to China. Advisers have discussed Lutnick’s dismissal, though Trump’s White House says he retains confidence. Megaspeed denies wrongdoing, and China rejects spying allegations.

(UPDATED November 14, 2026 02:59 UTC)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Commerce of failing to blacklist Megaspeed over suspected chip diversion to China. The dispute has raised questions about Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s future. The White House says President Trump maintains confidence in Lutnick.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 22:59 UTC)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Commerce of failing to blacklist chip customer Megaspeed. Officials suspect Megaspeed funneled advanced Nvidia chips to China, potentially giving Beijing an advantage. Trump advisers have discussed Lutnick’s job, but the White House says confidence remains.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 19:58 UTC)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of failing to restrict Nvidia chip sales to Megaspeed. Advisers have discussed Lutnick’s dismissal, though President Trump’s position remains unclear. Officials fear advanced chips could reach China and threaten US security.

(UPDATED November 13, 2026 16:04 UTC)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Commerce of failing to blacklist Nvidia customer Megaspeed. Officials suspect Megaspeed diverted advanced chips to China, risking an advantage in artificial intelligence. Trump’s advisers discussed Lutnick’s job, but the White House says Trump has confidence in him.