Treasury Secretary Bessent confronted Commerce Secretary Lutnick over refusal to blacklist Nvidia customer over China chip access
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent challenged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a Situation Room meeting last week over the Commerce Department's reluctance to designate Megaspeed, an Nvidia customer, as a possible national security threat, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN. CNN reports the confrontation reflects internal Trump administration tension over whether Megaspeed has circumvented U.S. law to funnel advanced Nvidia chips into China. According to CNN, Trump officials have long harbored concerns that Megaspeed violated export controls, while the Commerce Department has resisted formally blacklisting the company.
Editorial note
This story is based on CNN reporting citing two anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The core incident (the Situation Room confrontation) and the policy disagreement are reported as fact, but specific details about Megaspeed's alleged circumvention of law remain unconfirmed by independent sources.
✓ Verified
- ✓Bessent and Lutnick had a confrontation in the Situation Room last week over Megaspeed designation. (CNN)
- ✓The dispute concerns whether Megaspeed should be labeled a national security threat. (CNN)
- ✓Trump officials believe Megaspeed may have circumvented U.S. law to send Nvidia chips to China. (CNN)
~ Interpretation
- ~The confrontation illustrates tension within the Trump administration over Chinese access to Nvidia's advanced chips. (CNN characterization, not independently verified)
- ~The Commerce Department's reluctance signals disagreement with Treasury on the national security threat assessment. (implied by CNN reporting, not independently confirmed)
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