Elon Musk says hiring Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang would be 'an honour'
Synopsis
With Nvidia's board reportedly deliberating over Jensen Huang's future and shares down 13% in five days, Elon Musk's public remark that hiring Huang would be 'an honour' has recast a corporate governance crisis into a Silicon Valley spectacle — and raised the question of whether America's AI chip king could soon land at xAI.
Key Takeaways
Elon Musk said on X that hiring Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang would be 'an honour' , responding to a user suggestion on 12 November 2026 .
Nvidia's board was reportedly meeting on Wednesday to decide Huang's future following allegations of infidelity with VP Kimberly Powell and an earlier alleged affair with Chinese executive Alice Huang , reportedly believed by US intelligence to be a spy.
All claims against Huang have not been independently verified .
Nvidia shares fell as much as 10% in post-market trading and were down 13% over five days.
If post-market losses hold, Nvidia's market capitalisation could fall below $4 trillion .
Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire called Huang 'irreplaceable for America's AI leadership' even while acknowledging a serious mistake.
Billionaire Elon Musk has said it would be 'an honour' to hire Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, responding to a user's prompt on social media platform X even as the chipmaker's board reportedly convened to decide Huang's future amid fresh allegations of personal misconduct. The remarks, made on 12 November 2026, come at a critical moment for one of the most consequential companies in the global artificial intelligence boom.
Musk's Public Show of Support
Responding to an X user who wrote, 'Elon, please hire Jensen,' Musk replied: 'That would be an honour.' Earlier in November, Musk had also endorsed a post by Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire, who described Huang as 'one of the greatest entrepreneurs of this generation' while acknowledging that the Nvidia chief had made a serious mistake. Maguire wrote that Huang had done 'something incredibly dumb' and that it was 'bad for America', but added he believed there was 'probably no malicious intention' behind the actions. Musk responded to that post with a brief 'I agree.'
Board Scrutiny and Allegations Against Jensen Huang
Nvidia's board was reportedly set to meet on Wednesday to decide the CEO's future as Huang faces fresh allegations of infidelity. According to reports, Huang had an affair with Nvidia's Vice President of Health Care, Kimberly Powell. This is reportedly the second affair allegation against him. Earlier reports had also claimed that a prior affair involved a Chinese executive, Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, whom US intelligence agencies reportedly believe was a Chinese spy. The board had already initiated an independent investigation after Huang admitted to infidelity in an email to employees. It must be noted that these claims have not been independently verified.
Market Impact: Nvidia Shares Under Pressure
Nvidia's shares fell as much as 10% in post-market trading in New York on Wednesday and were down 13% over five days, according to reports. If those post-market losses hold when cash trading resumes, the company is set to slip below a $4 trillion market capitalisation — a significant threshold for a firm that had become a bellwether of the global AI infrastructure buildout.
What Maguire's Post Signals
Notably, the backing from both Musk and Sequoia's Maguire reflects a broader debate within the US tech establishment about whether Huang's alleged personal conduct — however serious — should determine the future of a company that has become central to America's AI competitive position. Maguire's post explicitly framed this as a national interest question, writing: 'I believe Jensen is irreplaceable for America's AI leadership.' The intervention of two such high-profile Silicon Valley figures in what might otherwise be a purely corporate governance matter underscores how much is perceived to be at stake.
What Happens Next
The outcome of Nvidia's board deliberations is expected to have immediate consequences for the company's stock and broader AI sector sentiment. Musk's public statement — however informal — could be read as a signal that Huang might find a landing spot at one of Musk's ventures, including AI startup xAI, should he be forced out. For now, the board's decision remains pending, and the unverified nature of key allegations leaves significant uncertainty over the final outcome.
Point of View
An informal job offer from the world's most prominent tech entrepreneur transforms a governance crisis into a talent-market story — and subtly signals that Huang has a soft landing if he needs one. The deeper issue is whether a company valued near $4 trillion can be governed by personal loyalty networks rather than institutional process. The fact that two of Silicon Valley's most influential voices — Musk and Maguire — are publicly defending Huang on national-interest grounds before the board has even ruled suggests the lines between corporate accountability and geopolitical narrative are blurring in ways that markets are only beginning to price.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Elon Musk say about hiring Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang?
Musk replied 'That would be an honour' to an X user who suggested he hire Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on 12 November 2026. The remark came amid reports that Nvidia's board was meeting to decide Huang's future following infidelity allegations.
Why is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang facing scrutiny?
Jensen Huang is facing scrutiny after reportedly admitting to an extramarital affair with Nvidia VP Kimberly Powell in an email to employees. A second earlier affair is also alleged, reportedly involving a Chinese executive whom US intelligence agencies believe was a spy — though these claims have not been independently verified.
How much have Nvidia shares fallen amid the controversy?
Nvidia shares fell as much as 10% in post-market trading in New York on Wednesday and were down 13% over five days. If those losses persist, the company's market capitalisation could drop below $4 trillion.
What did Sequoia Capital's Shaun Maguire say about Jensen Huang?
Maguire described Huang as one of the greatest entrepreneurs of his generation and said he believed there was probably no malicious intent behind Huang's actions, while acknowledging he had done something 'incredibly dumb.' He also argued that Huang is 'irreplaceable for America's AI leadership.'
What could happen next at Nvidia?
Nvidia's board was reportedly deliberating on Wednesday on Jensen Huang's future as CEO. The outcome is expected to directly affect the company's stock and broader AI sector confidence. No official decision had been announced at the time of reporting.
