Hours after Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang resigned with immediate effect on Thursday, November 12, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed former Apple chief executive Tim Cook to take over the reins of the artificial intelligence semiconductor giant.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump praised Huang for having done an “excellent job” during his 33-year tenure, before declaring that “only one man” should succeed him: Tim Cook—adding, “A Legend replaces a Legend!”
Why Tim Cook’s Name Is in the Spotlight
Trump’s public endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for both Silicon Valley giants, particularly given Cook’s current role at Apple:
- Available From Day-to-Day CEO Duties: Cook stepped down as Apple’s CEO on September 1, 2026—handing operational leadership to former hardware engineering chief John Ternus—and currently serves as Executive Chairman of Apple’s board.
- Supply Chain & Geopolitical Pedigree: Market analysts note that Cook’s reputation for scaling global semiconductor supply chains and navigating complex U.S.-China trade regulations makes him a high-profile name amid Nvidia’s current national security scrutiny, even as critics point out differences between Apple’s consumer hardware model and Nvidia’s compute infrastructure DNA.
- Market Reaction: Following Huang’s exit, Nvidia shares fell sharply in Thursday trading—dropping over 10% in premarket sessions before paring some losses—while Apple shares edged higher by roughly 1.3%.
Nvidia’s Immediate Leadership Structure
Neither Nvidia nor Tim Cook has officially commented on President Trump’s suggestion. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s board has divided Huang’s former responsibilities as it searches for a permanent leader:
- Interim CEO & Board Chair: Longtime Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress has been appointed interim CEO (while retaining her CFO duties), and former Synopsys CEO Harvey C. Jones has been named Nvidia’s first-ever independent board chairman.
- Formal Executive Search: Nvidia’s remaining 10 directors are working with an outside executive search firm to evaluate both internal and external candidates ahead of the company’s third-quarter earnings report on November 17.
