Trump Announces U.S.-Only Access to Nvidia’s Top AI Chips

U.S. President Donald Trump said the most advanced Nvidia Blackwell AI chips will only be available to American companies. He confirmed the decision during a “60 Minutes” interview and in comments to reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump emphasized that these top-end chips would not be sold to China or any other country. The move signals tighter restrictions on cutting-edge American AI technology than previously indicated by officials.

Trump suggested a scaled-down version of Blackwell chips might be allowed for China, but the most advanced versions are strictly reserved for the U.S. He said, “We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced.” The announcement comes amid growing concerns that advanced AI chips could accelerate China’s military capabilities and AI development. U.S. lawmakers, like Republican John Moolenaar, warned such sales could pose serious national security risks.

In July, the Trump administration released a new AI blueprint to expand exports and maintain the U.S. technological edge over China. Despite this, Trump’s statements now suggest a stricter stance on the top-tier Blackwell chips. Nvidia previously announced it would supply more than 260,000 chips to South Korea, including major businesses like Samsung Electronics. The company aims to balance international sales with U.S. regulatory restrictions.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company has not sought U.S. export licenses for China due to Beijing’s restrictions. He explained that access to China is needed to fund U.S.-based research and development. Meanwhile, speculation continues on whether negotiations for smaller versions of Blackwell chips will allow limited Chinese access. Trump did not discuss the topic with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a recent summit in South Korea.

The Trump administration’s move reflects growing tensions over AI technology and national security. By keeping top-tier chips in the U.S., Washington aims to prevent potential military and technological advantages for rival countries. Observers say the decision may reshape the global AI chip market and accelerate U.S. investment in domestic research. This policy could also influence international relations and trade negotiations regarding advanced semiconductors.

Read More : Kakao to integrate OpenAI technology into its products

Additionally, Kakao stated that its goods will utilise OpenAI technology. At a press briefing in Seoul, Kakao CEO Chung Shina and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made the news.

Altman stated that he prefers to keep discussions about partnerships private, but he acknowledged that many Korean businesses would play a significant role in the ecosystem of the Stargate data centre project in the United States.

Earlier Tuesday, Altman met with Chey Tae-won, the chairman of the SK Group. As part of his tour, Altman also intends to meet with Samsung officials. AI processors employ high-bandwidth memory chips made by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.