Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined U.S. President Donald Trump’s trip to China after initial reports suggested he had not been invited, according to a source familiar with the situation. Trump reportedly called Huang personally after seeing media coverage of his absence from the initial list of business delegates, as reported by CNBC. Huang flew to Alaska to board Air Force One, the source said.

High-Profile Business Delegation

Trump is bringing more than a dozen U.S. executives to Beijing this week, where he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday. Alongside Huang, the delegation includes business leaders such as Larry Fink of BlackRock, Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, and Jane Fraser of Citi.

A Nvidia spokesperson confirmed that Huang is attending the summit at the invitation of President Trump to support America and the administration’s goals. Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, denied that the media had incorrectly reported that Huang was not invited. He wrote that the news outlet CNBC had “incorrectly reported that the Great Jensen Huang, of Nvidia, was not invited to the incredible gathering of the World’s Greatest Businessmen/women proudly going to China.”

Business and Strategic Goals

Trump said he would be asking President Xi to “open up” China so that the business leaders could “work their magic” and “help bring the People’s Republic to an even higher level.” The high-stakes summit is the first overseas trip for Trump since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. The summit is expected to cover topics including that conflict, tariffs, and China’s relationship with Taiwan.

Huang, who was declared the world’s seventh richest person earlier this week, has said China represents a $50bn opportunity for Nvidia. His company’s chips have been central to the AI boom and have faced tighter U.S. restrictions on sales to China over the last four years. In February, Nvidia said that U.S.-government-approved versions of its most advanced chips had yet to be allowed into China.

Market and Political Context

Huang was not on the initial list of business delegates, according to reports. However, the Nvidia boss was reportedly seen boarding Trump’s presidential plane in Alaska before the president confirmed his participation in the summit on social media. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trip’s composition or goals.

Trump’s social media post emphasized the significance of the trip, highlighting what he called the “incredible gathering of the World’s Greatest Businessmen/women.” The president also praised Xi as a leader of “extraordinary distinction,” framing the visit as an opportunity to strengthen U.S.-China economic ties and promote American business interests in the world’s second-largest economy.