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Trump’s Approval of Nvidia AI Chip Sales to China Sparks Backlash in Washington

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U.S. lawmakers and former national security officials are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s decision to allow Nvidia to sell its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, warning the move could weaken America’s AI advantage and bolster Beijing’s military capabilities.

The Trump administration on Tuesday formally approved China-bound sales of Nvidia’s H200, the company’s second most powerful AI processor, setting the stage for shipments to resume despite long-standing concerns in Washington over national security risks.

At a congressional hearing, Matt Pottinger, a former White House Asia adviser during Trump’s first term, said the administration was on the “wrong track” and argued that selling advanced AI chips to China would “supercharge Beijing’s military modernization.” He warned the chips could enhance capabilities ranging from nuclear weapons development to cyber warfare, autonomous drones and intelligence operations, urging Congress to impose stricter guardrails.

Several Republican lawmakers voiced unease. Congressman Michael McCaul said the United States should not be selling sensitive technology to a country that routinely steals American intellectual property. Democratic lawmakers were more direct, with Congressman Gabe Amo likening the policy shift to “handing our opponents our coordinates in the middle of a battle.”

The administration has defended the decision, with White House AI czar David Sacks arguing that controlled sales could discourage Chinese firms such as Huawei from accelerating efforts to develop rival chips. Pottinger dismissed that logic as unrealistic.

Under the new rules, chips exported to China must undergo third-party testing, and China cannot receive more than 50% of the volume sold to U.S. customers. Nvidia must also certify sufficient domestic supply, while Chinese buyers are required to demonstrate security safeguards and pledge not to use the chips for military purposes.

Some lawmakers acknowledged these safeguards. Congressman Brian Mast, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said “know your customer” provisions were significant. Others remained skeptical, noting the rules rely heavily on self-reporting by Chinese buyers and would add strain to the Commerce Department, which oversees export controls.

Adding to the uncertainty, Reuters reported that Chinese customs officials recently indicated Nvidia’s H200 chips were not permitted to enter the country, raising questions about how quickly shipments could actually resume.

Former Trump Adviser Dina Powell McCormick Appointed Meta President and Vice Chairman

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Meta Platforms on Monday named former Trump administration official Dina Powell McCormick as its president and vice chairman, a move widely seen as strengthening the company’s lobbying and political ties in Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Powell McCormick shortly after the announcement in a post on Truth Social, calling her “fantastic” and praising her service in his administration with “strength and distinction.”

Her appointment comes amid a broader strategic realignment at Meta that has brought the company closer to Trump and Republican leadership. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has been seeking political backing for Meta’s expanding investments in frontier artificial intelligence and so-called personal superintelligence, including plans to build massive data centers and secure long-term energy capacity. Ahead of Trump’s second inauguration, Zuckerberg visited him at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Over the past year, Meta has taken several steps that have appealed to Trump, including scrapping its U.S. fact-checking program, promoting Republican executive Joel Kaplan to chief global affairs officer, ending diversity programs, and hiring former Trump trade adviser C.J. Mahoney to lead its legal team. Meta declined to say whether Powell McCormick’s appointment was intended to curry favor with Trump.

Dina Powell McCormick Joins Meta as President and Vice Chairman

According to the company, Powell McCormick will focus on expanding Meta’s data center footprint, building new strategic capital partnerships, and increasing the firm’s long-term investment capacity—areas critical to its AI ambitions. Meta has committed up to $72 billion in capital spending for 2025 as it works to regain momentum in Silicon Valley’s AI race after a muted reception to its Llama 4 model.

Powell McCormick brings extensive experience in both finance and government. She spent 16 years in senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, served as deputy national security adviser during Trump’s first term, and previously held a senior White House advisory role under former President George W. Bush. She is married to David McCormick, a Republican senator from Pennsylvania who chairs a Senate subcommittee overseeing energy policy—an area relevant to Meta’s data center expansion.

A spokesperson for Senator McCormick said he will continue to comply with all Senate ethics rules. However, critics raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, said the senator should recuse himself from any votes or committee actions involving Meta’s business.

Powell McCormick’s new role echoes the influence once wielded by former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, who used deep ties to Washington and the Democratic Party to help Meta navigate regulatory scrutiny. Notably, Powell McCormick had resigned from Meta’s board in December, just eight months after joining, before being elevated to her new executive position.

Trump Says Microsoft to Make Changes to Limit Data Center Power Costs for Americans

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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Microsoft will introduce “major changes” this week aimed at preventing American consumers from facing higher electricity bills due to the growing power demands of data centers.

In a post on social media, Trump said his administration is working closely with major U.S. technology companies to address rising utility costs linked to the rapid expansion of data centers, which underpin cloud computing and artificial intelligence services. He stressed that protecting households from higher energy prices was a priority.

“I never want Americans to pay higher Electricity bills because of Data Centers,” Trump said, adding that his administration is securing commitments from leading tech firms “to the American People,” with further announcements expected in the coming weeks.

Data centers have become a growing concern for policymakers as electricity demand surges across the United States, driven by AI workloads and large-scale cloud infrastructure. Utilities in several regions have warned that new data center projects could strain local power grids and push up costs for residential users.

Trump did not provide details on the specific changes Microsoft plans to implement, nor did he name other technology companies involved in the discussions. Microsoft has not yet publicly commented on the statement.