Trump Says Nvidia’s Most Advanced AI Chips Will Be Reserved for US Use
US President Donald Trump has declared that Nvidia’s most advanced artificial intelligence chips will be reserved exclusively for American companies, blocking access for China and other countries.
Speaking during a CBS «60 Minutes» interview and later to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said only US firms should have access to Nvidia’s top-tier Blackwell chips, produced by the world’s most valuable company.
«The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States,» Trump said, adding, «We don’t give the Blackwell chip to other people.»
Tighter Controls on AI Exports
The statement signals a potential tightening of export controls beyond what US officials had previously outlined, with China and possibly other nations excluded from obtaining Nvidia’s latest semiconductor technology.
In July, the Trump administration introduced a new AI strategy aimed at expanding exports to US allies while reinforcing America’s lead in advanced technology. Just last week, Nvidia announced plans to supply over 260,000 Blackwell AI chips to South Korea, including to Samsung Electronics and other major firms.
Questions have lingered since August over whether China might receive a scaled-down version of the chip. Trump confirmed that while the most advanced Blackwells would remain off-limits, a less capable version could be made available.
«We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced,» he told CBS.
Washington Voices Concern Over China Access
The idea of allowing even limited sales to Chinese firms has faced strong resistance in Washington, where critics warn the move could bolster China’s military and AI capabilities. Congressman John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, compared the potential sale to «giving Iran weapons-grade uranium.»
Trump had hinted at raising the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their recent summit in South Korea, but later confirmed that the topic was not discussed.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said last week that the company had not sought US export licences for China, noting Beijing’s current stance against its operations there.
«They’ve made it very clear that they don’t want Nvidia to be there right now,» Huang said, adding that the company still relies on access to the Chinese market to fund US-based research and development.
