WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — On Sunday, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Massad Boulos, a Lebanese American businessman and father-in-law of his daughter Tiffany, as a senior advisor focusing on Arab and Middle Eastern issues.
Boulos played a crucial role in the Trump campaign by fostering connections with the Arab American community in Michigan, organizing numerous meetings in regions with significant Arab American populations who were dissatisfied with President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. This outreach contributed to Trump’s victory in the predominantly Arab American city of Dearborn Heights, helping him secure Michigan and other pivotal swing states.
“He has consistently championed Republican and Conservative values, making him a valuable asset to my campaign, and was key in forging impressive new alliances with the Arab American community,” Trump expressed in a statement on Truth Social.
Both Trump and Boulos have asserted their intention to achieve peace in the Middle East, although they have not shared explicit details regarding Trump’s strategies for the region.
Boulos has had aspirations for political office in Lebanon and maintains strong relationships with notable political figures there. Other appointments made by Trump for critical national security roles have been vocal supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is aligned with Trump.
For instance, Mike Huckabee, designated as ambassador to Israel, has consistently opposed a Palestinian state in territories held by Israel, and has controversially stated that “there really isn’t such a thing” as Palestinians, referring to the descendants of those living in Palestine prior to Israel’s founding.
Moreover, Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has encouraged the reconstruction of a historic Jewish temple on the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, regarded as one of the most sacred sites in Islam.
Boulos also leveraged the growing discontent among Democrats regarding the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, where over 44,000 fatalities have been reported since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, according to officials from Hamas-controlled territories who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants in their figures.
Trump secured Michigan by just over 10,000 votes in the 2016 election, but Biden successfully reclaimed the state for the Democrats in 2020 by approximately 154,000 votes. In the most recent elections, Trump won Michigan with 49.7% of the votes against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.
“Massad is a skilled negotiator and a steadfast advocate for PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump remarked on Truth Social.
Known for placing family members and relatives in significant government roles, Trump is indicating that he will approach his second term similarly. On Saturday, he revealed plans to nominate Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as ambassador to France.
