The Surprising Emergence of Jacob Helberg Silicon Valley’s Trump Advisor
Silicon Valley has always been a hub of innovation, where the focus is on building groundbreaking products faster than regulations can keep up. However, the tech industry’s relationship with politics has become increasingly complex. The recent Hill and Valley Forum in Washington, D.C., highlighted this evolving dynamic, with Jacob Helberg emerging as a significant figure in nationalist tech policy.
Jacob Helberg, an advisor to Palantir and married to venture capitalist Keith Rabois, has made a name for himself by pushing legislation to force the divestiture of TikTok. His influence was evident at the Hill and Valley Forum, a discussion on AI policy and national security. The event, co-hosted by Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund and Christian Garrett of 137 Ventures, was a notable success, attracting high-profile attendees from both the political and tech worlds.
The forum featured closing remarks from Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and a closed-door dinner with Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Venture capitalists like Vinod Khosla, Joe Lonsdale, and Josh Wolfe also took the stage. However, it was Palantir CEO Alex Karp who stole the show with his impassioned rant about college protesters and a joke about launching drone strikes on disappointing VCs.
The panels at the event were a mix of political and tech leaders speaking freely, with investors, members of Congress, and Helberg himself serving as moderators. Senator Lindsey Graham, still angry about Section 230, shared the stage with Sequoia’s Roelof Botha. Politico described the event as a “MAGA-tinged Hill summit,” a characterization Helberg rejected, calling it “BIPARTISAN” instead.
The Washington Post suggested that Helberg and his associates were preparing to write AI rules for a potential second Trump presidency. The event indeed had a Republican tilt, with more Republican officials on stage than Democrats. Much of the discussion centered on what AI policy might look like under Trump, focusing on leveraging China fears to roll back Biden’s executive order and block AI regulation while increasing funding for national tech favorites.
Speaker Johnson outlined three core tenets for his AI agenda: rejecting government licensing of AI, pushing allies to back off regulation and join the fight against China, and boosting domestic energy production to support AI data centers. Despite some bipartisan panels, the decision to have former President Trump make a surprise video appearance underscored the event’s Republican leanings.
Delian Asparouhov’s post-event description of Trump’s appearance highlighted the shift in Silicon Valley’s political landscape. He noted that four years ago, admitting to voting for Trump required an apology, but now major defense tech funds were sharing a stage with him. This rhetoric challenges the notion that the event was a bipartisan discussion on national security, suggesting instead an effort to normalize Trump within the tech community.
Several Silicon Valley figures, including Helberg, Lonsdale, Daniel Gross, and Matt Ocko, stayed in the area to support House Republicans’ fundraising efforts. Interestingly, there was little mention of Trump’s opposition to the TikTok bill, a key priority for Helberg and other VC China hawks.
While bipartisanship is crucial for ensuring America’s competitiveness with China and for tech policy and national security, embracing Trump crosses a line for many. Supporting Trump, with his election-denialism and mob-boss practices, undermines foundational American principles like the rule of law, which is one of the country’s enduring competitive advantages.
The eagerness of many VCs to cozy up to Trump and his allies, driven by the promise of tax cuts, minimal regulation, and potential funding for their AI companies, is short-sighted. It overlooks the long-term damage to American principles and the rule of law. The financial class’s willingness to overlook fascist warning signs for business-friendly policies is a troubling trend.
The Hill and Valley Forum, while a backslapping event, serves as a reminder that Trump remains a significant political force. Insiders are preparing for a possible second Trump presidency, and it’s time to take that possibility seriously.
Source: Politico, The Washington Post
