U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Nvidia’s most advanced artificial intelligence chips will be reserved exclusively for American companies, preventing China and other nations from obtaining them. In a pre-recorded interview aired on CBS’ 60 Minutes and during conversations with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized that only U.S. customers should have access to Nvidia’s top-tier Blackwell chips. “The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States,” he said, reiterating his comments from earlier in the day.

These remarks signal that the Trump administration could enforce stricter limits on exports of high-end American AI chips than previously expected, potentially blocking China and other countries from accessing the latest semiconductors. In July, the administration introduced a new AI strategy aimed at expanding AI exports to allied nations and reducing regulatory barriers, seeking to preserve the U.S. lead in the sector. Recently, Nvidia announced plans to deliver more than 260,000 Blackwell chips to South Korea, including to major firms such as Samsung Electronics.

Questions have lingered over whether China might still receive a lower-performance version of the Blackwell chips. Trump clarified that while the most advanced versions would remain off-limits, less capable models might still be available: “We will let them deal with Nvidia but not in terms of the most advanced,” he told CBS.

The idea of allowing even limited chip sales to China has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers, who argue such technology could strengthen China’s military and accelerate its AI progress. Representative John Moolenaar compared it to “giving Iran weapons-grade uranium.” Although Trump had considered discussing the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a recent summit in South Korea, he later said the topic was not raised.

Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted that the company has not applied for export licenses to China, explaining that Beijing has made it clear Nvidia is currently unwelcome there. He added that continued access to global markets is vital for supporting Nvidia’s U.S.-based research and development efforts.