Massad Boulos: The Man Behind Donald Trump’s Middle East Policy, Who May Not Be What He Seems
Massad Boulos has been credited with helping Donald Trump win over Arab American voters in battleground states like Michigan during the 2024 presidential election. He’s also the father-in-law of Tiffany Trump, married to Michael Boulos, the son of Boulos, who has been described as a billionaire and a lawyer by news outlets.
However, a closer look at Boulos’ background raises questions about his claimed wealth and professional credentials. While Trump has described him as an “accomplished lawyer” and a “highly respected leader in the business world,” it appears that Boulos doesn’t have a law license and his company’s market value is less than $1 million.
Business Insider found no evidence to suggest that Boulos is a billionaire, despite repeated descriptions in the media. Instead, his company, SCOA Nigeria, is a penny stock with a valuation of around $865,000. Boulos Enterprises, another company mentioned as part of his business portfolio, is actually owned by a different group of Lebanese Nigerians with the same last name.
Furthermore, Boulos may not have a law degree from the University of Houston, as previously reported. A university spokesman said he has a bachelor’s degree in “general business” from one of its smaller schools. Boulos’ LinkedIn profile, which is no longer active, previously listed a law degree from Texas Southern University, but Texas officials confirmed that he is not a licensed attorney.
A search of bar records for 50 states and Washington D.C. found that Boulos is not registered as a lawyer in any of those jurisdictions. Even in his home countries, including Lebanon, Nigeria, and France, there is no public evidence that he is licensed as a lawyer.
Despite the discrepancies, Boulos remains a prominent figure in Trump’s advisory team on Middle East affairs, joining a team of other high-profile advisors including Steven Witkoff, Mike Huckabee, and Marco Rubio. Trump’s descriptions of Boulos’ qualifications have been disputed, with some news outlets calling into question his accuracy.
In the end, the controversy surrounding Massad Boulos’ background and credentials highlights the importance of fact-checking and verification in public reporting. While Boulos may have connections to Middle Eastern business and politics, his actual achievements and credentials remain unclear.