Jacob Helberg

Keith Rabois

​

(m. 2018)​

Jacob Helberg
Helberg in 2025
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
Incumbent
Assumed office October 16, 2025 [1]
Education	George Washington University (BA) New York University (MS)
Occupation	Technology advisor, writer

Jacob Helberg (born November 9, 1989 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (France)) ^[3] is an American and French 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

Helberg grew up in a Jewish family in France. ^[12] He 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]}

Pax Silica

In December 2025, as Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Helberg led the launch of Pax Silica, described as the Department of State's "flagship effort on AI and supply chain security." ^[19] The Pax Silica Declaration was signed by nine countries—Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom—with additional participation from Canada, the European Union, Netherlands, OECD, and Taiwan as non-signatory participants. ^[20]

The initiative aims to build a secure, resilient technology ecosystem spanning critical minerals, energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure. Helberg has characterized the agreement as establishing "a new economic security consensus ensuring aligned partners build the AI ecosystem of tomorrow." ^[21] ngress-threatens-anti-beijing-momentum-60821fff |access-date=2024-05-02 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref> 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. ^{[22] [23] [24]} Previously, Helberg primarily donated to Democratic candidates, including the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign. ^{[25] [26]} He attributes his shift to the COVID-19 pandemic, technological concerns about China, and anti-Israel views among Democrats. ^{[27] [28] [29]}

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. ^[30]

Publications

In 2021, Simon & Schuster published a book by Helberg, The Wires of War: Technology and the Global Struggle for Power. ^[31] According to The Information, the book argues that "foreign adversaries are using technology to wage war against the U.S." ^[32]

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. 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. 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. "Pax Silica". United States Department of State. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
20. "Under Secretary Helberg Will Kick Off Pax Silica Summit with Landmark Declaration Signing". United States Department of State. December 11, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
21. "Remarks by Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg at the Hudson Institute". United States Department of State. January 29, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
22. Rogers, Alex; Murphy, Hannah; Hammond, George; Kinder, Tabby (19 July 2024). "Has Silicon Valley gone Maga?". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
23. 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.
24. Rogers, Alex; Murphy, Hannah (24 May 2024). "Silicon Valley elite warms to Donald Trump". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
25. 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.
26. Schleifer, Theodore (2019-05-07). "How Pete Buttigieg became the new toast of Silicon Valley's wealthiest donors". Vox. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
27. Schleifer, Theodore (May 8, 2024). "The Silicon Valley Megadonor Olympics". Puck.
28. "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.
29. Deutch, Gabby (May 17, 2024). "Top Silicon Valley donor cites anti-Israel left in his shift from Biden to Trump in 2024". Jewish Insider.
30. Bazail-Eimil, Eric (10 December 2024). "Trump picks China hawk to be top State Department economic policy official". Politico . Retrieved 11 December 2024.
31. Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany (12 October 2021). "Book: The hidden U.S.-China technology war". Axios. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
32. MacColl, Margaux (21 June 2024). "Trump's Young Man in Silicon Valley". The Information. Retrieved 14 August 2024.