The most valuable chip CEO in the world wasn't on this trip.
Then the news leaked. Trump called Huang himself.
Huang flew to Alaska to catch Air Force One on its way to Beijing.
A source close to the matter told CNBC that Trump saw the news of Huang's absence. He then reached out to invite him.
Trump's group has more than a dozen U.S. bosses. He's set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday and Friday.
Nvidia confirmed the trip in a short note: "Jensen is attending the summit at the invitation of President Trump to support America and the administration's goals."
Trump also took to social media to deny that Huang had ever been left off the list. CNBC and others had reported just that.
Trump said opening up China for U.S. firms would be his "first request" to Xi.
The press in both countries is watching the trip closely. Markets are watching it too, with chip stocks moving on each new headline.
What's the real impact for investors? Market Briefs covers stories like this each weekday morning - plus a free investing course when you sign up.
For four years, the U.S. has tightened the screws on Nvidia chip sales to China.
The top AI training chips, the ones that power the best AI models, have been mostly off-limits. Nvidia said in February that even U.S.-approved versions still weren't cleared for buyers in China.
That's a big deal for Nvidia. China has long been a major market for the firm.
In response, China has been racing to build its own chips and AI models. DeepSeek is the headline name.
A recent piece in the Chinese Communist Party's own journal said local firms have had to slow down due to U.S. chip rules. It also said Nvidia still leads the world market for the chips that power AI training.
For Huang, this trip is a chance to push for a thaw.
Carlos Gutierrez is the former U.S. Commerce Secretary. He spoke on "Squawk Box Asia."
"I still believe that we are far away from a deal on export controls," Gutierrez said.
He added it's a good sign that Huang is part of the trip.
In English: Huang showing up matters. But a deal is not likely to follow.
The two-day summit is the next checkpoint. The bigger question is whether Huang walks away with any clarity on the chip rules.
Nvidia shares rose more than 2% on Wednesday.
The stock has been a key driver of the broader market this year. Any move on China rules could shift its 2026 outlook.
China has been one of Nvidia's biggest markets historically. The chip rules cut deep into that pipeline. A thaw, even a small one, could move the stock.
Wall Street will be watching closely for any signals on the chip front coming out of the summit.
If you want a sharper read on what moves like this mean for the market, join Market Briefs - it lands each morning, plus a 45-minute investing class as a bonus.
