Trump ‘sells out’ US national security with Nvidia chip sales to China

President Donald Trump’s decision to let Nvidia sell its H200 AI chips to China continues to draw political fire in Washington, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) calling it a direct threat to American national security.

Speaking on the Senate floor Thursday, Warren accused Trump of “selling out the American economy and American national security” in exchange for political and corporate favour. She demanded that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testify before Congress about the agreement.

“This deal puts our technological leadership at risk,” Warren said. “The Trump administration knows exactly how dangerous this is, yet they went ahead anyway—because in this administration, money talks.”

Her remarks came three days after Trump announced that Nvidia could sell its powerful H200 chips to “approved customers” in China, as long as the U.S. government collects a 25% fee on each sale. The move has faced bipartisan criticism from lawmakers worried it could strengthen China’s AI and military capabilities.

Warren linked the decision to what she called a “pattern of corruption,” noting that Huang attended a $1 million-per-plate fundraiser at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and that Nvidia later made donations toward a new White House ballroom project. “Who knows what else happened behind closed doors to make this dangerous concession,” she said.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to calm backlash, saying the chips will undergo security inspection in the U.S. before shipment and will be sold only to vetted Chinese customers. “This policy ensures exports do not pose a risk to U.S. national security,” Leavitt said.

The controversy underscores how AI technology exports have become a flashpoint in Trump’s trade and tech strategy—balancing economic gain with fears that China could close the gap in advanced computing power.

Warren has urged Congress to pass new bipartisan legislation tightening export controls, warning that “every chip sold to China is a step closer to losing America’s AI edge.”