US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos will serve as his senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. This appointment places Boulos, who is also the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany, in a key White House role.
Boulos, who played a crucial role in mobilizing Arab American and Muslim voters during Trump’s campaign, will now manage a challenging portfolio. This includes ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, with Israel’s war in Gaza still raging and a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Boulos’s extensive international experience and ties to the Arab-American community make him a significant figure for the role.
“I am proud to announce that Massad Boulos will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He described Boulos as an “accomplished lawyer” and a “highly respected leader in the business world,” praising his pro-Republican and conservative values. Trump also noted Boulos’s instrumental role in building coalitions with the Arab American community.
Massad Boulos’s son, Michael, is married to Trump’s daughter Tiffany, which adds to the growing trend of family connections in Trump’s White House appointments. This follows the recent selection of Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, as the US ambassador to France.
Boulos takes on his new position at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Israel’s war in Gaza continues with increasing civilian casualties, while Hezbollah and Syrian rebel forces challenge regional stability. Boulos has previously expressed the need to end conflicts swiftly, aiming to dismantle militant infrastructures like Hamas and to push for lasting peace and prosperity in Gaza and Lebanon.
Trump’s appointments, including Boulos, have sparked some criticism, as many of his choices appear to prioritize loyalty and family connections over extensive expertise in the relevant fields. Boulos’s appointment adds to a series of controversial picks for Trump’s administration, including his selection of Kash Patel to lead the FBI and the appointment of Charles Kushner.
Trump’s leadership strategy, emphasizing loyalty and personal connections, continues to shape his administration’s direction. Boulos, a Maronite Christian and businessman with deep ties to the Arab community, will now play a critical role in the administration’s Middle Eastern policies.