Transcript: John Moolenaar Calls for Answers on China Chip Controls

Questions over chip sales

Moolenaar said the key issue is which chips may be sold to China. He noted that the Trump administration has barred sales of advanced chips, including Blackwells and Rubens, while saying some other chips may not significantly increase China’s capabilities.

He argued that lawmakers must safeguard sensitive technology and determine where chips are going. Moolenaar said Megaspeed should have been placed on the entity list because it partnered with Alibaba, which the Department of War designated as a Chinese military company.

Calls for Commerce answers

Asked whether he supported Lutnick traveling to China with President Trump or remaining in his job, Moolenaar said he would leave that decision to the president. He said Lutnick and the Commerce Department needed to answer questions.

Moolenaar said export controls should be included in the National Defense Authorization Act. He argued that legislation would give businesses greater certainty and help maintain policy across administrations.

Committee seeks Huang interview

The interview raised Moolenaar’s request for a closed-door interview with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on December 1. The excerpt does not include Moolenaar’s answer about whether Huang had agreed or whether a subpoena would be needed. Moolenaar had been quoted as saying Huang had “severely compromised our national security.” The excerpt does not include his response explaining the basis for that claim or his answers to questions about Huang’s access and Megaspeed.