QUOTES-Reactions to Nvidia's probe into CEO Jensen Huang

Nvidia's board is probing whether CEO Jensen Huang had been the ​target of a foreign intelligence effort, after a media ​report alleged he had a close relationship ‌with ​a Chinese businesswoman who passed information to Beijing. Here's what people are saying:

DONALD TRUMP, US PRESIDENT: "I have not spoken to him about it. I just know he's ‌a fine person, but you never know what is going on. I hope everything's fine ... I think he's an honourable guy."

BILL ACKMAN, PERSHING SQUARE CEO: "I am not suggesting he gets a free pass. If indeed this is more than an affair, ‌then it is obviously a real problem. I like the guy. He has done a lot of good ‌for the world and I hope the damage here is minimal. That is, I am hoping for a simple affair, not a risk to our national security."

MOHAMED A. EL-ERIAN, FORMER PIMCO CEO: "While Nvidia has sought to reassure us all, there are several layers here, beginning with ⁠the unfortunate ​timing. For example: The company ⁠is systemically important for tech, markets and the economy; Investors tend to struggle to price in key-person and governance issues; and there are fluid ⁠national security and geopolitical dynamics."

JOSH GILBERT, LEAD ANALYST AT ETORO: "This boardroom storm has landed at a brutal time for the AI trade, ​but Nvidia’s earnings on 17 November are the real next test. While the investigation is likely to ⁠dent sentiment, it won’t alter anything long-term unless it leads to a change at the top, at which point it becomes a completely different ball game."

CHRIS ⁠WESTON, ​HEAD OF RESEARCH, PEPPERSTONE: "Will Huang get replaced? No, I don't think that's going to happen. I think given that he is like the godfather of AI and, you know, the OG of what has been the ⁠biggest investment thematic that we've seen in a generation, I mean, I think if we genuinely thought he was going ⁠to step down ... the ⁠stock would be down - it would be an absolute bloodbath, to be honest.

"If it is found out that she's confirmed as a spy, then, crikey, it doesn't go well."