Donald Trump has suggested that Tim Cook should take over as NVIDIA's CEO following Jensen Huang's departure from the company. The US president shared his view on Truth Social on November 12, praising Huang's contribution to NVIDIA before pointing to Apple's former chief as a possible successor.
Trump described the idea as “a Legend replaces a Legend”. It was an unexpected recommendation, particularly because Cook has no publicly announced plans to join NVIDIA.
Cook stepped down as Apple's CEO in September 2026 after leading the company for 15 years. He remains its executive chairman, while John Ternus has taken over as chief executive. During his time at Apple, Cook oversaw the company's expansion into new product categories and helped build its services business.
Huang co-founded NVIDIA in 1993 and spent more than three decades building it into a leading supplier of AI chips. His exit on November 12 leaves the company facing a major leadership transition at a time when demand for AI computing hardware remains high.
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NVIDIA has appointed CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO while it searches for a permanent replacement. The company is reportedly considering candidates from both inside and outside the organisation.
Huang's departure has also attracted attention because of reports concerning his alleged links to a Chinese businesswoman suspected of having connections to Beijing's intelligence operations. These are reported allegations, not established findings of wrongdoing by Huang.
Trump and Cook have had a working relationship over issues involving Apple's US manufacturing plans and technology policy. Huang, too, has engaged with the administration on AI development and restrictions on chip exports to China.
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Still, Trump's suggestion should not be mistaken for an indication that Cook is in the running. NVIDIA has not announced him as a candidate, and there is no public confirmation that he wants the job.
The bigger question now is who can take over from Huang and guide NVIDIA through its next phase of growth. With the company playing a central role in the global AI industry, the board's choice will carry considerable weight.