Scoop: Inside Bessent's Situation Room confrontation with Lutnick over China chip security
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clashed in a Situation Room meeting over China chip security and the handling of the firm Megaspeed. Sources stated that Bessent confronted Lutnick for failing to label Megaspeed, a customer of Nvidia, as a national security threat. The US commerce department delayed the inclusion of Megaspeed on a trade blacklist. The dispute follows allegations made by Alice Huang, prompting a Senate Democrat to press the Trump administration regarding the Megaspeed probe.
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- ✓ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a Situation Room meeting over not labeling Nvidia customer Megaspeed as a national security threat.
- ✓ The US commerce department delayed Megaspeed's inclusion on a trade blacklist.
- ✓ Trump officials clashed over Megaspeed, which is the firm at the heart of the Nvidia affair.
What changed
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent directly confronted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during a Situation Room meeting over the refusal to designate Nvidia customer Megaspeed as a national security threat.
Live updates
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Bessent and Lutnick Clash in White House Over Megaspeed Chip Security
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clashed in a Situation Room meeting over China chip security and the handling of the firm Megaspeed. Sources stated that Bessent confronted Lutnick for failing to label Megaspeed, a customer of Nvidia, as a national security threat. The US commerce department delayed the inclusion of Megaspeed on a trade blacklist. The dispute follows allegations made by Alice Huang, prompting a Senate Democrat to press the Trump administration regarding the Megaspeed probe.
Why it matters
The confrontation marks a public escalation of a White House feud over trade policy and technology controls targeting China. Megaspeed sits at the center of an ongoing Nvidia affair that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers. Tensions between Bessent and Lutnick trace back to their earlier competition for the Treasury secretary position.
What is confirmed
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confronted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a Situation Room meeting over not labeling Nvidia customer Megaspeed as a national security threat.
- The US commerce department delayed Megaspeed's inclusion on a trade blacklist.
- Trump officials clashed over Megaspeed, which is the firm at the heart of the Nvidia affair.
Still unconfirmed
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly told Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to go ferself during their 2024 battle for the Treasury job.
What to watch next
- Decisions by the US commerce department regarding Megaspeed and its potential trade blacklist status
- Further congressional inquiries or actions by Senate Democrats concerning the Megaspeed probe and Alice Huang allegations
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (8)
- bsky.app — @starlink85.bsky.social
- digg.com — Microsoft, Alphabet and 14 others object to OKXICE’s tokenized-stock plans · Digg
- Financial Times — US commerce department delays Megaspeed’s inclusion on trade blacklist
- Axios — Scoop: Inside Bessent's Situation Room confrontation with Lutnick over China chip security
- The New York Times — Trump Officials Clashed Over Megaspeed, Firm at Heart of Nvidia Affair
- CNN — Bessent confronts Lutnick over not labeling Nvidia customer a national security threat, sources say
- The Hill — Senate Democrat presses Trump administration on Megaspeed probe following Alice Huang allegations
- www.yahoo.com — Bessent Points Finger at Lutnick as White House Feud Over Nvidia Erupts
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