President-elect Trump appointed Dr. Massad Boulos, Lebanese-American businessman and father-in-law of Tiffany Trump, as a senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs in his Cabinet.
“I am pleased to announce that Massad Boulos will be serving as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs,” stated the president-elect on TRUTHSocial. “Massad is a distinguished lawyer and prominent figure in the business world, with vast experience on the international stage. He has long been an advocate for Republican and Conservative principles, a valuable asset to my Campaign, and played a crucial role in forming strong new alliances with the Arab American Community. Massad is a skilled negotiator and a staunch advocate for PEACE in the Middle East. He will be a forceful advocate for the United States and its interests, and I am thrilled to have him on our team!”
Boulos spearheaded efforts to engage the Arab American community, hosting numerous meetings across Michigan and other regions with large Arab populations.
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Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, center, listens to Albert Abbas, owner of The Great Commoner, left, as Massad Boulos looks on during a visit to the cafe, Nov. 1, 2024, in Dearborn, Michigan. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
Some sessions also featured Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence, who was well-regarded by those who met with him.
Trump campaign officials and supporters told Reuters that Boulos helped sway some of the 300,000 Arab Americans and Muslims in Michigan who predominantly supported Biden in 2020 but later became disillusioned with Biden’s policies in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon.
Dr. Massad Boulos, Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law, sits for a portrait at the Wall Street Hotel in New York on Sep 4, 2024. (Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Boulos’ son, Michael, and Tiffany Trump were wed in November 2022 at Mar-a-Lago. Trump shared during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club in October that Tiffany is expecting.
Boulos, a billionaire with extensive business ties to Nigeria, was born in Lebanon but relocated to Texas as a teenager. He studied at the University of Houston and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Reportedly, Boulos’ father and grandfather were active in Lebanese politics, and his father-in-law supported the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party associated with Hezbollah.
Eric Trump, his sister Tiffany Trump and her then-boyfriend Massad Boulos arrive for President Trump’s acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee on the South Lawn of the White House, Aug. 27, 2020. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
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Three sources informed Reuters that Boulos’ appeal lies in his ability to engage with various factions within Lebanese politics, as he maintains relations with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Shi’ite Muslim party and terrorist organization that largely controls the parliament. Boulos is acquainted with Suleiman Frangieh, a Christian politician supported by Hezbollah for the presidency, and has been in contact with the Lebanese Forces Party, a Christian group that strongly opposes Hezbollah.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
