Joel David Kaplan, born January 1, 1970, is an American lawyer, political advisor, lobbyist, and attorney with a career bridging government service and Big Tech leadership. He served as a military officer in the Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps and held key roles in Republican administrations, including Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council in the George W. Bush White House, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy in the Donald Trump administration from 2017 to 2019. Kaplan joined Meta Platforms (Facebook) in 2014 as Vice President of Global Public Policy, shaping the company's positions on regulation, content moderation, and free speech amid controversies over political bias allegations. He advanced to President of Global Affairs in January 2025, succeeding Nick Clegg. Known for his conservative ideology, pro-Israel advocacy, and influence within conservative and tech policy circles, his tenure at Meta has drawn scrutiny for balancing conservative viewpoints within a liberal-leaning industry, including defending the platform against censorship claims, navigating U.S.-Israel policy intersections, and reported private ties to figures like Avi Goldwasser.