Travis Kalanick shares 'struggle session' guide amid Jensen Huang scandal

Travis Kalanick has shared some advice amid Jensen Huang's affair scandal. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images Uber cofounder and ex-CEO Travis Kalanick has shared a guide for combating what he called a "modern-day coup/psyop/struggle session" after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang became embroiled in scandal.Kalanick did not name Huang or Nvidia in his X post Monday, but his message appeared as scrutiny intensified over Huang's admission that he had an extramarital affair.At the center of the saga is Alice Huang, whom The New York Times reported last month was believed by US intelligence officials to be acting as a spy for the Chinese government.In his X post, Kalanick detailed a 12-point list of "practical principles to counter" a reputational crisis."Own what you did but fiercely resist accommodating the mob, resist owning half-truths or actions/behaviors you didn't do," Kalanick wrote as the first principle on his list.He followed that with, "The op is not about your past actions, it's about your enemies and this event as their opportunity."Kalanick also suggested that any fallout may not be as dire as you think, writing, "No matter how bad it gets, nothing is as bad as it seems."Had a little time on my hands this morning to do some writing… send along to someone you know who may benefit --- “Practical principles to counter a modern-day coup/psyop/struggle session” 1) Own what you did but fiercely resist accommodating the mob, resist owning half-truths or actions/behaviors you didn’t do. 2) The op is not about your past actions, it’s about your enemies and this event as their opportunity 3) No matter how bad it gets, nothing is as bad as it seems. 4) Find the enemies at the very root of the op and find every creative problem-solving tool at your disposal to neutralize them. 5) People will throw their grandmother under the bus if they believe doing so will protect their reputation. They can become highly useful idiots in the op. Their power and access must be fiercely and quickly cut off. 6) Do not hesitate in cutting off anyone you suspect of disloyalty. 7) Build a team of close and loyal patriots and have one of them run a dedicated, well-resourced war room to put the rebellion to rest. 8) Use your patriots and regular meditation to buoy your psychological resistance to the op. 9) Your enemies aren’t as smart or hard working as you. Outsmart and outwork them as a way of life until the op is over. 10) Think about the op as if it were in the past. What are the difficult things you procrastinated on or avoided that would have stopped the op? Do them. 11) Never be ashamed of the op. Business as usual. Continue on with optimism and joy in your everyday work and its mission. 12) Download telegram and use it as your messaging application for all sensitive communications.— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 9, 2026 The Uber cofounder's advice included finding the "enemies at the very root of the op," cutting off anyone suspected of disloyalty, and building a team of "close and loyal patriots" with one who can run a "well-resourced war room.""Your enemies aren't as smart or hard working as you," Kalanick wrote in point nine. "Outsmart and outwork them as a way of life until the op is over." He also urged those facing such a situation to carry on with "business as usual," adding, "Continue on with optimism and joy in your everyday work and its mission."Additionally, Kalanick advised downloading the encrypted messaging app Telegram for "all sensitive communications."At the top of the post, Kalanick said he had "a little time on my hands this morning to do some writing" and encouraged followers to "send along to someone you know who may benefit."Kalanick did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether he may have had Jensen Huang in mind.Uber investors pressured Kalanick to resign as the ride-hailing company's CEO in 2017 after a series of scandals roiled the company.Meanwhile, Jensen Huang's admission that he was "unfaithful" to his wife of over 40 years has prompted Nvidia to launch an independent investigation into whether he was the "target of a foreign intelligence effort."Nvidia's board has said it has confidence in his leadership, though the scandal has raised questions about whether he will remain CEO of the $4.5 trillion AI chipmaker. Read next Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Natalie is a senior reporter on Business Insider's Business News team covering the AI and data center boom.She was previously on BI's Legal Affairs team, where she handled major cases coming out of state and federal court, as well as bankruptcy. Her coverage often focused on stories at the intersection of law, business, politics, and technology. Natalie has covered Donald Trump’s criminal and civil cases, the wave of lawsuits against the second Trump administration, the indictment and criminal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the legal battles facing Elon Musk and his companies. Natalie came to Business Insider in June 2021 as a breaking news reporter, focusing on the most interesting angles on the day's trending news. Natalie largely drove BI’s coverage around the fatal “Rust” shooting involving Alec Baldwin and the disappearance and murder of Gabby Petito.Prior to joining BI, Natalie worked for the New York Post, the New York Daily News, and The Brooklyn Paper. She has an extensive background covering crime and courts. During her more than 12-year journalism career, she did a stint covering the police beat out of the New York Police Department's headquarters. Natalie, a Brooklyn native, graduated from Brooklyn College in 2012 with a degree in journalism. AI Tech Uber More