Donald Trump publicly backed a Tim Cook Nvidia leadership handover on Thursday after Jensen Huang resigned as chief of the semiconductor giant. Writing on Truth Social hours after the resignation became public, Trump declared that Cook was the only leader qualified to replace Huang. The suggestion pairs Apple’s former chief with a chipmaker facing federal review in Washington. [1]
Trump’s Nomination on Truth Social
The post arrived as markets reacted to Huang’s exit from the company he helped build over three decades. Posting to his Truth Social account in capital letters on Thursday morning, Trump wrote: “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. A Legend replaces a Legend!” Trump gave no sign of whether he had spoken with Cook before publishing the post online. The public push for a Tim Cook Nvidia succession quickly reshaped tech industry discussions about Nvidia’s future, shifting focus on whether Cook would consider returning to a top post. [2]
Cook stepped down as Apple CEO on September 1, 2026, ending 15 years in the role after succeeding Steve Jobs. Instead of departing Apple, Cook became chair of the board. John Ternus took over as Apple’s new chief. [4]
The shakeup at Nvidia stands in stark contrast to Apple’s planned handover. Apple spent several years preparing the Apple CEO transition that left Cook focused on policy as Ternus took charge of daily work. Nvidia had no permanent successor in place when Huang resigned. The board named Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim head as it searches for a permanent replacement. [5]
Huang Resigns Amid Dual Inquiries
Huang’s exit followed revelations about personal affairs that sparked serious security concerns in the chip industry. Nvidia’s board revealed on Wednesday that Huang stepped down after internal reviews uncovered two personal affairs. Reviews showed that Huang engaged in an affair with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of health care. Agents also found Huang had a relationship with an executive at Megaspeed who was suspected of operating as a foreign spy for China. Those findings brought an abrupt end to Huang’s long run leading the chipmaker, leaving Nvidia without its founder just as global rivalry in AI hardware accelerated. [3]
Federal teams had tracked the foreign spy probe for months before Huang stepped down. Reporting confirmed that U.S. officials investigated an alleged spy plot targeting Huang in an apparent honeypot setup. White House officials briefed Trump about the probe. [3]
Trump chose not to intervene after receiving briefings, reportedly hoping to protect chip sales and avoid upsetting Beijing. Scrutiny grew as the House Select Committee on the CCP summoned Huang for a closed-door deposition under threat of a subpoena. Markets reacted nervously on Wednesday morning as Nvidia stock plunged more than 10% before buyers helped shares regain lost ground. [3]
Washington Ties and Political Giving
Huang had spent years making friends in Washington to protect Nvidia’s data center products from trade limits. He often met with lawmakers to lobby against export bans and worked to reverse President Biden’s AI Diffusion Rule, arguing that trade caps harmed American tech growth. Trump praised Huang’s business approach during White House meetings, publicly calling the chip founder “utterly visionary” on tariffs and global trade talks. Those close ties helped Nvidia navigate shifting rules as rivals faced trade barriers, making Huang one of the tech sector’s most effective liaisons to federal officials. [3]
Nvidia backed its lobbying with major political cash. Company records confirmed Nvidia gave $26 million to projects linked to Trump, including $1 million for the inaugural fund and $25 million for a White House ballroom project first revealed by the Washington Post. [2]
Cook forged his own working channel to Trump during his final years leading Apple. Cook criticized Trump’s social policies in a leaked 2017 staff memo, but he later found common ground with the president on business tax cuts and tariff relief for electronics assembly. Cook joined a private screening at the White House for the Amazon film Melania, which centered on the First Lady. That screening drew public criticism because it took place during federal immigration sweeps in Minneapolis that resulted in the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. [2]
Evaluating a Tim Cook Nvidia Transition
Trump was not alone in arguing that a Tim Cook Nvidia appointment made sense for the board. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Senior Associate Dean for Leadership Studies at the Yale School of Management, published an op-ed in Time backing Cook. Sonnenfeld wrote that Cook had succeeded a bigger-than-life founder at Apple. [4]
During his 15 years running Apple, Cook proved his skill at expanding a consumer technology business and steered global supply chains. After taking over from Steve Jobs in August 2011, Cook oversaw the arrival of Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Music, and Apple TV. He grew Apple’s annual sales to record heights and built factory ties in China. Sonnenfeld argued that Cook brought “an unparalleled track record of succeeding a bigger-than-life founder,” making him uniquely equipped to steady Nvidia after Huang’s exit. That experience matches Nvidia’s current board needs as the chipmaker balances trade friction in Washington with reliance on Asian chip foundries. [4]
Could the former Apple chief realistically take the helm at Nvidia? Most industry observers view the proposal as unlikely. Cook serves Apple as chair of the board, focusing on foreign policy and trade talks. Commentators noted that pursuing a Tim Cook Nvidia tenure would require abandoning promises he made to Apple’s board only two months ago. Others joked that “Tim Nvidia” lacks the memorable ring of the moniker Trump once gave him, “Tim Apple.” [4]
Contenders Beyond Tim Cook at Nvidia
With Cook unlikely to leave Apple, Nvidia’s board widened its CEO search. In-house names include Vice President Ian Buck, who oversees computing architecture and helped build Nvidia’s AI chip platform. [2]
Outside choices under discussion include prominent leaders across the global tech sector. Arm Holdings CEO Rene Haas offers deep familiarity with chip licensing and overseas foundry networks. Apple hardware head Johny Srouji has also been discussed by people familiar with chip talent searches. Other prominent figures mentioned by industry insiders include OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor, AMD chief executive Lisa Su, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Schmidt brings deep government connections, but critics said that his past extramarital affairs could complicate his candidacy at a company already recovering from a scandal. [2]
Interim head Colette Kress must maintain momentum as the board steers the transition process. Nvidia is scheduled to report its third-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on Tuesday, November 17, giving Kress an early chance to reassure investors about ongoing chip shipments. With Huang stepping down and congressional inquiries continuing, the company faces urgent pressure to establish steady guidance and prove that its computing roadmap can thrive without its founding leader. [3]
- ONLINE NEWS AppleInsider. (2026). Donald Trump wants Tim Cook to be the next Nvidia CEO. AppleInsider. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Novak, M. (2026). Trump Wants Tim Cook to Replace Jensen Huang as Nvidia CEO. Gizmodo. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Warwick, S. (2026). President Trump says Apple’s Tim Cook is the only man to replace Jensen Huang as Nvidia CEO. Tom’s Hardware. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Perez, S. (2026). Trump floats Apple chairman Tim Cook as Jensen Huang’s successor. TechCrunch. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Hall, Z. (2026). President Trump calls on Tim Cook to be next NVIDIA CEO. 9to5Mac. [Article Link]
