The saga reveals how personal scandal, political patronage and corporate succession can rescue a pivotal technology company from deeper trust damage

On Thursday, 12 November 2026, US President Donald Trump suggested that Tim Cook of Apple Inc. should succeed Jensen Huang as chief executive of Nvidia.

The remark arose hours after Huang had resigned from the chipmaker he co-founded, amid recent reports of two extramarital relationships. “NOW THAT Nvidia CEO JENSEN HUANG, who has done a fantastic job, has resigned, there is only one man to take his place – TIM COOK of Apple,” Trump had posted on Truth Social.

Both Axios and the Washington Examiner reported that it was unclear whether Trump had intended the suggestion as a joke. Trump’s post was his first public response to Huang’s departure.

According to CNN Cook has not publicly expressed interest in joining Nvidia.

Late on 11 November 2026, Nvidia’s board had accepted Huang’s resignation as chief executive, president and director with immediate effect. It has appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim CEO and named former Synopsys chief executive Harvey C Jones as its first board chair. The board said it would evaluate internal and external candidates for the permanent role.

Potential successors reportedly include Kress, Apple hardware chief Johny Srouji, AMD chief executive Lisa Su and Arm chief executive Rene Haas. Nvidia shares had fallen sharply when markets opened.

Earlier in the saga, Donald Trump had defended Huang, calling him an “honorable guy”. CNN has reported that Trump had been briefed on the relationship earlier in the year but he had chosen not to act. The response in Congress was more forceful. House Speaker Mike Johnson had said Huang had “done the right thing” by resigning. Senator Elizabeth Warren argued that the resignation did not relieve Huang, other executives or Nvidia of responsibility for allegedly putting US national security at risk.

According to online chatter, Trump’s endorsement of Cook therefore stands apart from the sharper political reaction to Huang’s exit, even as Nvidia begins the search for a permanent leader.