Meet ‘Silicon’s Valley’s Trump Whisperer’, Jacob Helberg: the president’s undersecretary for economic growth married tech investor Keith Rabois in a ceremony officiated by OpenAI’s Sam Altman

Mar 30 , 2025

Jacob Helberg used to be a Democrat – then flipped to become a Trump supporter, then donor, then member of his administration. Photo: @jacobhelberg/X

Among Donald Trump’s lesser-known confidants is Jacob Helberg, a Jewish, LGBT ‘China hawk’ who was recently appointed undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment

Whatever the rest of the world thinks of Donald Trump’s second term so far, it’s clear that those at the heart of his administration are enjoying themselves.

“The Trump White House has to be one of the most united, collegial teams in modern history,” Jacob Helberg, the new undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, wrote on Instagram on March 20. “Grateful for the opportunity to serve the greatest country in the world with such good people and friends,” he added.

US President Donald Trump has shaken up Washington – and the world – with his new team. Photo: AP

So who exactly is Jacob Helberg, the “China hawk” who was previously best known for his support for banning TikTok in the US?

Here’s what you need to know about the Jewish LGBT White House official who’s set to be “a champion of [the] America First Foreign Policy”, per a post shared by Trump on X in December.

Where is Jacob Helberg from?

Jacob Helberg was raised in a Jewish family in Paris. Photo: @jacobhelberg/X

Helberg, who is in his mid-30s, was raised in a Jewish household in Europe, per Jewish Insider. He grew up in Paris, where his maternal grandparents migrated after leaving Tunisia, while his American father’s parents were survivors of the Holocaust. “I was struck by how America never had an awkward relationship toward religion or Jews, and I always found that to be such a breath of fresh air. I think everyone at the end of the day yearns to belong,” Helberg told Jewish Insider.

When former vice-president Kamala Harris compared her political opponent Trump to Adolf Hitler, Helberg took to X to express his disapproval. “My grandparents were Holocaust survivors,” he wrote in a caption alongside a reshared clip of the VP’s speech. “They had a serial number tattooed on their forearms their entire life after being liberated from Auschwitz. Kamala Harris is a disgrace for comparing @realDonaldTrump to Hitler. This rhetoric isn’t only unpresidential, it’s dangerous and invites violence.”

He studied at NYU

Jacob Helberg discussed AI with Taiwan’s Vice-President, Hsiao Bi-khim, in April last year. Photo: @jacobhelberg/X