Not Elon Musk or Apple CEO Tim Cook: This top executive may be Donald Trump's next ‘tech bro'
, CEO of Nvidia, is said to be emerging as the most politically influential technology leader within the second
Donald Trump
administration, a position previously held by Apple's
Tim Cook
and Tesla CEO
Elon Musk
. Citing Dan Ives of Wedbush, CNBC reported that in 'Trump 2.0,'
Nvidia
surpassed
Apple
as America's most valuable company and Huang's leadership as well as Nvidia's role in the
AI revolution
have pushed him above other tech executives.
"Huang has become a global figure and taken on a new role politically due to his success in the AI revolution," stated Ives of Wedbush, noting that the importance of Nvidia's AI chips has 'vaulted him ahead of Cook.'
'He has found himself in a very strong position to navigate the political landscape... [as] there is only one chip in the world fueling the AI revolution, and that's Nvidia's,' Ives added.
US gives 'go-ahead' to Nvidia to resume sales of H20 AI chips to China
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Recently, the US gave a go-ahead to Nvidia to resume selling its watered-down AI chip, H20, specifically designed for China – a reversal of earlier export restrictions that industry experts largely attribute to Huang's direct lobbying.
'It was a historic win for Nvidia and Jensen... and I think it shows the increasing political influence that Huang's having within the Trump administration,' Ives commented.
The H20 reversal is publicly linked to broader US-China trade negotiations. However, several experts speaking to CNBC suggested Huang's lobbying played a substantial role.
The Nvidia CEO has met with Trump multiple times this year, including a trip to the Middle East in May that resulted in a massive AI deal to deliver hundreds of thousands of Nvidia's advanced AI chips to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Why Apple CEO Cook and Elon Musk 'fell behind'
In contrast to Huang's rising influence, Elon Musk experienced a public rupture with Trump in recent months over the 'One Big Beautiful Bill'. Meanwhile, under Trump's second presidency, Apple CEO Tim Cook has faced renewed pressure from the administration.
In May, Trump expressed a 'little problem with Tim Cook' regarding Apple's plans in manufacturing in India, despite Apple's February commitment of a $500 billion investment in the US.
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