President-elect Donald Trump has named Massad Boulos, a Lebanese American businessman and father-in-law of his daughter Tiffany, as a senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos was instrumental in organizing meetings between Trump’s campaign and the Arab American community in Michigan, including in the city of Dearborn, where Trump won a majority of the vote.
Trump praised Boulos as a “dealmaker” and an “unwavering supporter of peace in the Middle East,” citing his efforts to build coalitions with the Arab American community. Boulos has previously sought office in Lebanon and has ties to political figures in the country.
The appointment comes as Trump prepares to take office, and as his transition team begins to fill key national security positions. Other picks, including Mike Huckabee and Pete Hegseth, are supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Huckabee rejecting the idea of a Palestinian state and Hegseth advocating for the rebuilding of a biblical Jewish temple at the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Trump’s decision to name Boulos as an adviser has been seen as an effort to capitalize on divisions within the Democratic base over support for the Israeli offensive in Gaza, where over 44,000 people have died since Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023. Trump’s team is expected to continue to focus on building coalitions with faith-based and community groups, as part of its efforts to build a winning coalition for the 2024 election.
