Warren Accuses Trump of Selling Out National Security with Nvidia Chip Sales to China

Trump Administration Decision Reverses Export Restrictions

President Donald Trump's decision to permit Nvidia chip sales of advanced H200 AI chips to China has ignited fierce criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who accused the administration of selling out national security for corporate interests 1

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. The Trump administration decision reverses longstanding export restrictions that previously barred Beijing from accessing advanced computing hardware, marking a significant shift in U.S.-China technology policy 2

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Under the new framework, the U.S. government will collect roughly 25% of revenue generated from these sales, with all shipments required to go to approved customers subject to security reviews by the Commerce Department 2

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. The decision came after Trump discussed the plan with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who "responded positively," according to the president's Truth Social post 2

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. However, the approval does not extend to Nvidia's Blackwell chip or its next-generation Rubin chip, which will remain available only to American customers .

Warren Demands Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Testify Before Congress

In remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Elizabeth Warren called the move a serious threat to technological leadership and demanded that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testify before Congress about the agreement 1

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Warren highlighted the troubling timing of the decision, noting that shortly before Trump's announcement, the Department of Justice had boasted about cracking down on a major chip-smuggling network linked to China 2

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"So why did the President make this bad deal that sells out the American economy and sells out American national security?" Warren asked. "It's simple: In the Trump administration, money talks" 2

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. The Massachusetts senator's concerns center on potential corporate influence, particularly after Jensen Huang donated to fund Trump's $300 million White House ballroom project and attended a $1 million-per-person dinner at Mar-a-Lago .

Bipartisan Concern Among Senators Over China's Military AI Capabilities

The decision has generated rare bipartisan concern among senators who fear the policy could be accelerating China's military AI development. Sen. Lindsey Graham told CNBC, "Alarm bells go off in my head here. I don't mind doing normal business with China. But if you can prove to me this will accelerate their military capability, I'll oppose it" 2

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. Sen. Josh Hawley added that "China's progress on AI is almost entirely parasitic on our technology, in particular on our hardware," arguing that constraining their access to U.S. technology is essential to maintaining competitive advantage 2

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Former U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that the H200 is significantly more powerful than chips China could previously access and stronger than anything Chinese firms are likely to produce in the near future. Writing in The Times, Sunak argued the decision materially increases the risk of China catching up and potentially overtaking Western nations in the AI race .

Corporate Donations Fuel Allegations of Undue Corporate Influence

The controversy intensified due to the timing of corporate donations and high-level access granted to Nvidia executives. In October, Jensen Huang donated to fund construction of Trump's White House ballroom project, though Nvidia was not listed among official donors released by the White House . "After NVIDIA's CEO paid for a special dinner and his company donated to Donald Trump's gold-plated ballroom, he got his wish to sell advanced AI chips to China," Warren wrote on X .

Nvidia defended the policy adjustment, arguing it supports U.S. jobs, manufacturing, and taxpayers while maintaining tight regulations. The company told Reuters that exports to China will still require U.S. government approval and represent only a small fraction of Nvidia's global advanced chip shipments 2

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. Sources told Reuters that Chinese companies have shown robust demand for the H200, with Nvidia contemplating boosting production in response 2

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. Meanwhile, Chinese regulators may impose their own constraints on H200 access, requiring strict approvals or prioritizing domestic chip development to bolster self-sufficiency, according to sources who spoke with the Financial Times 2

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