Jacob Helberg

Jacob Helberg
Helberg in 2025
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 16, 2025[1]
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJose W. Fernandez
Personal details
Born (1989-11-09) November 9, 1989
Paris, France [2]
Spouse
​
(m. 2018)​
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA)
New York University (MS)
OccupationTechnology advisor, writer

Jacob Helberg (born November 9, 1989)[3] is an American writer and technology advisor.[4][5] He is currently serving as the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment in the second Trump administration.

Helberg serves as a commissioner for the U.S.–China Economic and Security Review Commission, and senior advisor to Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies.[6][7][8] Helberg has commented extensively on US–China relations, and the national security implications of Chinese-developed web apps like TikTok.[9][10][11]

Personal life

He grew up in a Jewish family in Europe.[12] Helberg married American investor Keith Rabois in a 2018 ceremony officiated by Sam Altman.[13]

Helberg graduated from George Washington University with a BA and then the NYU Law - NYU Tandon MS in Cybersecurity Risk & Strategy program in 2020.[14]

Political involvement

Helberg became a leading advocate for the 2024 passage of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which forced a sale or ban of TikTok.[15][16][17][18] Helberg is the founder of the Hill and Valley Forum, a working group of American venture capitalists and lawmakers concerned about China's impact on the American technology industry.[7][5]

Helberg is one of the top donors to Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, donating $2 million in 2024.[19][20][21] Previously, Helberg primarily donated to Democratic candidates, including the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign.[22][23] He attributes his shift to the COVID-19 pandemic, technological concerns about China, and anti-Israel views among Democrats.[24][25][26]

On December 10, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced Helberg would be the under secretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment in his second term.[27]

Publications

In 2021, Simon & Schuster published a book by Helberg, The Wires of War: Technology and the Global Struggle for Power.[28] According to The Information, the book argues that "foreign adversaries are using technology to wage war against the U.S."[29]

References

  1. ^ https://x.com/jacobhelberg/status/1978897382705340703?t=oLSdsUZ-xPWEoHq9KZllzQ&s=19
  2. ^ https://www.aleph.vc/content/jacob-helberg---episode-23
  3. ^ "Trump is tapping members of the LGBT community for top spots in administration". 18 January 2025.
  4. ^ Kang, Cecilia (2024-03-27). "A.I. Leaders Press Advantage With Congress as China Tensions Rise". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  5. ^ a b Dwoskin, Elizabeth; Harwell, Drew; Zakrzewski, Cat (2024-05-02). "The tech billionaires who helped ban TikTok want to write AI rules for Trump". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  6. ^ "Jacob Helberg | U.S.- CHINA | ECONOMIC and SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION". www.uscc.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  7. ^ a b Goswami, Rohan (2024-04-11). "Vinod Khosla and Palantir's Jacob Helberg call on Senate to ban TikTok: It's 'a weapon of war'". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  8. ^ Rosenbush, Belle Lin and Steven. "Congressional U.S.-China Commissioner Warns of Global Tech Supply Chain Risk". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  9. ^ Biddle, Sam (2024-03-21). "Tech Official Pushing TikTok Ban Could Reap Windfall From U.S.–China Cold War". The Intercept. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  10. ^ Kang, Cecilia; Maheshwari, Sapna (2023-11-08). "Lawmakers Renew Calls to Ban TikTok After Accusations of Anti-Israel Content". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  11. ^ Wells, Georgia. "WSJ News Exclusive | Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill Build an Anti-China Alliance". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  12. ^ Deutch, Gabby (May 17, 2024). "Top Silicon Valley donor cites anti-Israel left in his shift from Biden to Trump in 2024". Jewish Insider. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  13. ^ Schleifer, Theodore (May 7, 2019). "How Pete Buttigieg became the new toast of Silicon Valley's wealthiest donors". Vox. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "Jacob Helberg". NYU Law and NYU Tandon. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  15. ^ Huang, Stu Woo. "WSJ News Exclusive | How TikTok Was Blindsided by U.S. Bill That Could Ban It". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  16. ^ Maheshwari, Sapna; McCabe, David; Kang, Cecilia (2024-04-24). "'Thunder Run': Behind Lawmakers' Secretive Push to Pass the TikTok Bill". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  17. ^ Perez, Andrew; Madarang, Charisma; Perez, Andrew (2024-03-22). "Lawmaker Who Led TikTok Ban Bill Joins Private Surveillance Firm: Report". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  18. ^ Areddy, James T. "China Top Critic's Exit From Congress Threatens Anti-Beijing Momentum". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  19. ^ Rogers, Alex; Murphy, Hannah; Hammond, George; Kinder, Tabby (19 July 2024). "Has Silicon Valley gone Maga?". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  20. ^ Svetkey, Benjamin (2024-08-07). ""F*** These Trump-Loving Techies": Hollywood Takes on Silicon Valley in an Epic Presidential Brawl". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  21. ^ Rogers, Alex; Murphy, Hannah (24 May 2024). "Silicon Valley elite warms to Donald Trump". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  22. ^ Deutch, Gabby (2024-05-17). "Top Silicon Valley donor cites anti-Israel left in his shift from Biden to Trump in 2024". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  23. ^ Schleifer, Theodore (2019-05-07). "How Pete Buttigieg became the new toast of Silicon Valley's wealthiest donors". Vox. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  24. ^ Schleifer, Theodore (May 8, 2024). "The Silicon Valley Megadonor Olympics". Puck.
  25. ^ "Trump gets $1 million from Silicon Valley donor who once gave to Democrats". Washington Post. 2024-05-14. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
  26. ^ Deutch, Gabby (May 17, 2024). "Top Silicon Valley donor cites anti-Israel left in his shift from Biden to Trump in 2024". Jewish Insider.
  27. ^ Bazail-Eimil, Eric (10 December 2024). "Trump picks China hawk to be top State Department economic policy official". Politico. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  28. ^ Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (12 October 2021). "Book: The hidden U.S.-China technology war". Axios. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  29. ^ MacColl, Margaux (21 June 2024). "Trump's Young Man in Silicon Valley". The Information. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
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