Jacob Helberg Explained

Jacob Helberg
Education:George Washington University (BA)
New York University (MS)
Spouse:Keith Rabois

Jacob Helberg is an American author and technology advisor.[1] [2] Helberg currently serves as a commissioner for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and senior advisor to Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies.[3] [4] [5] Helberg has commented extensively on US-China relations, and the national security implications of Chinese-developed web apps like TikTok.[6] [7] [8]

Personal life

He grew up in a Jewish family in Europe.[9] Helberg is openly gay.[10] He married American investor Keith Rabois in a 2018 ceremony officiated by Sam Altman.[11]

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.[12] [13] [14] [15] 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.

Helberg is one of the top donors to Donald Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, donating $2 million in 2024.[16] [17] [18] Previously, Helberg primarily donated to Democratic candidates, including the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign.[19] [20] He attributes his shift to the COVID-19 pandemic, technological concerns about China, and anti-Israel views among Democrats.[21] [22] [23]

Publications

In 2021, Simon & Schuster published a book by Helberg, The Wires of War: Technology and the Global Struggle for Power.[24] According to The Information, the book argues that "foreign adversaries are using technology to wage war against the U.S."[25]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kang . Cecilia . 2024-03-27 . A.I. Leaders Press Advantage With Congress as China Tensions Rise . 2024-05-02 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  2. News: Dwoskin . Elizabeth . Harwell . Drew . Zakrzewski . Cat . 2024-05-02 . The tech billionaires who helped ban TikTok want to write AI rules for Trump . 2024-05-02 . Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286.
  3. Web site: Jacob Helberg U.S.- CHINA ECONOMIC and SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION . 2024-05-02 . www.uscc.gov.
  4. Web site: Goswami . Rohan . 2024-04-11 . Vinod Khosla and Palantir's Jacob Helberg call on Senate to ban TikTok: It's 'a weapon of war' . 2024-05-02 . CNBC . en.
  5. News: Rosenbush . Belle Lin and Steven . Congressional U.S.-China Commissioner Warns of Global Tech Supply Chain Risk . 2024-05-02 . WSJ . en-US.
  6. Web site: Biddle . Sam . 2024-03-21 . Tech Official Pushing TikTok Ban Could Reap Windfall From U.S.–China Cold War . 2024-05-02 . The Intercept . en-US.
  7. News: Kang . Cecilia . Maheshwari . Sapna . 2023-11-08 . Lawmakers Renew Calls to Ban TikTok After Accusations of Anti-Israel Content . 2024-05-02 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  8. News: Wells . Georgia . WSJ News Exclusive Silicon Valley and Capitol Hill Build an Anti-China Alliance . 2024-05-02 . WSJ . en-US.
  9. Web site: Deutch . Gabby . Top Silicon Valley donor cites anti-Israel left in his shift from Biden to Trump in 2024. Jewish Insider . May 17, 2024 . November 4, 2024.
  10. News: Zinko . Carolyne . Venture capitalist, 27, expands reach of Rainbow Railroad to S.F. . 2024-05-02 . San Francisco Chronicle . en.
  11. Web site: Schleifer . Theodore . 2019-05-07 . How Pete Buttigieg became the new toast of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest donors . 2024-05-02 . Vox . en.
  12. News: Huang . Stu Woo . WSJ News Exclusive How TikTok Was Blindsided by U.S. Bill That Could Ban It . 2024-05-02 . WSJ . en-US.
  13. News: Maheshwari . Sapna . McCabe . David . Kang . Cecilia . 2024-04-24 . ‘Thunder Run’: Behind Lawmakers’ Secretive Push to Pass the TikTok Bill . 2024-05-02 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  14. Web site: Perez . Andrew . Madarang . Charisma . Perez . Andrew . 2024-03-22 . Lawmaker Who Led TikTok Ban Bill Joins Private Surveillance Firm: Report . 2024-05-02 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  15. News: Areddy . James T. . China Top Critic’s Exit From Congress Threatens Anti-Beijing Momentum . 2024-05-02 . WSJ . en-US.
  16. Web site: Has Silicon Valley gone Maga? . 2024-07-20 . www.ft.com.
  17. Web site: Svetkey . Benjamin . 2024-08-07 . "F*** These Trump-Loving Techies": Hollywood Takes on Silicon Valley in an Epic Presidential Brawl . 2024-08-15 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  18. Web site: Silicon Valley elite warms to Donald Trump . 2024-05-25 . www.ft.com.
  19. Web site: Deutch . Gabby . 2024-05-17 . Top Silicon Valley donor cites anti-Israel left in his shift from Biden to Trump in 2024 . 2024-05-17 . Jewish Insider . en-US.
  20. Web site: Schleifer . Theodore . 2019-05-07 . How Pete Buttigieg became the new toast of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest donors . 2024-05-17 . Vox . en.
  21. Web site: The Silicon Valley Megadonor Olympics. Theodore. Schleifer. May 8, 2024. Puck.
  22. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/05/14/trump-donors-tech-jacob-helberg/
  23. Web site: Top Silicon Valley donor cites anti-Israel left in his shift from Biden to Trump in 2024. Gabby. Deutch. May 17, 2024. Jewish Insider.
  24. News: Allen-Ebrahimian . Bethany . 12 October 2021 . Book: The hidden U.S.-China technology war . 14 August 2024 . Axios.
  25. News: MacColl . Margaux . 21 June 2024 . Trump's Young Man in Silicon Valley . 14 August 2024 . The Information.

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