Oren Kass and American Compass: A Clash of Rhetoric and Reality
Oren Kass, the founder of the think tank American Compass in Washington, has become a prominent voice advocating for economic nationalism and the idea of “strategic separation” from China. His position has drawn significant attention among right-leaning circles.
However, new revelations about the group’s affiliations with various corporations and staff have sparked concerns about the alignment of its rhetoric with actual practices. Kass has consistently argued that the United States needs to adopt a firmer approach towards China, emphasizing the importance of boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains.
In a 2023 essay, Kass and his colleagues asserted that the U.S. “must break away from China or become irreparably corrupted by it,” claiming that economic ties with China are undermining the country’s industrial capacity and limiting political action.
They pointed out that Chinese influence is deeply woven into American research and policy frameworks. According to them, China has long targeted U.S. academic and research institutions to gain economic leverage and to push its ideological goals. The authors suggested that these organizations must adhere to stricter processes to maintain operational integrity and security.
They even called for legal changes to prevent U.S. institutions from partnering with Chinese entities or affiliates, arguing that financial exchanges need to cease entirely. Lawmakers from both parties have consistently raised alarms about how educational exchanges and partnerships with Chinese entities could mask espionage activities. Given the rising scrutiny of Beijing’s influence in the U.S., such warnings have only grown stronger.
On July 28, 2025, Kass added his voice to a coalition of national security experts, expressing concern over Nvidia’s decision to resume exports of particular technology to China. They characterized this move as a strategic mistake that could jeopardize the U.S.’s competitive edge in artificial intelligence.
Yet, Kass’s strong stance against China seems to conflict with the realities of managing a think tank in an interconnected global economy. In June 2025, American Compass held an extravagant 5th anniversary celebration funded by major companies like Qualcomm, BlackRock, and Google, all of which have significant ties to China.
This raises questions about American Compass’s staffing and connections as well. The director of events and operations previously worked for Alibaba Group, a major Chinese tech firm, while an economist on the advisory board is affiliated with Peking University, which has close connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
Although these affiliations aren’t illegal or uncommon in Washington, they complicate Kass’s position as a proponent of economic separation from China and underscore the challenges of achieving such a vision while depending on corporate backers. Attempts to obtain comments from Kass and American Compass went unanswered.
