Musk and 115,000 signers urge Nvidia to reinstate Jensen Huang after abrupt exit

A petition calling on Nvidia to reinstate former chief executive Jensen Huang gathered more than 115,000 signatures by Saturday afternoon. High-profile tech figures have joined current and former staff in demanding his return.

Tech leaders push back on sudden removal

The petition claims signers include Elon Musk, who leads Tesla and SpaceX, alongside Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney, Replit head Amjad Masad, and Y Combinator leader Garry Tan. The organizers report that the document has backing from 5,965 current Nvidia workers, 1,108 former staff, and 63,063 shareholders.

Signers argue that the board removed Huang without adequate due processDue processA formal requirement that standard legal procedures and fair treatment are followed before taking action. Open in glossary. The campaign urges Nvidia to reinstate Huang immediately while an outside inquiry reviews the facts. It also requests that the board run a fair investigation and share more details with the public, claiming Huang faces mob justice rather than a proper review.

Fallout from the executive departure

Huang stepped down on Thursday. His resignation came four days after he admitted to having a relationship with a semiconductor executive whom United States intelligence agencies suspect of being a Chinese spy. Media reports have pointed to other extramarital affairs, and Huang has agreed to appear before Congress to testify.

Following his exit, Nvidia named Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim chief executive while the board looks for a full-time leader. The leadership shake-up sent Nvidia shares down sharply during the week, while industry watchers anticipate his absence will create a funding shortfall across the artificial intelligence sector.