US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he has appointed Massad Boulos, a Lebanese American businessman and father-in-law to his daughter Tiffany, as a senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
This decision highlights Trump’s tendency to place family members and their close connections in influential roles.
The announcement came a day after Trump revealed that Charles Kushner, a New Jersey real estate developer and father-in-law to his daughter Ivanka, would be the next US ambassador to France. Both appointments underscore Trump’s reliance on trusted figures within his family network as he prepares for his second term.
In a statement shared on Truth Social, Trump praised Boulos for his business expertise and contributions to the presidential campaign. He wrote, “Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the international scene. He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American community.”
Boulos first met Trump in 2019 after his son Michael began dating Tiffany Trump. During the 2024 campaign, he made multiple trips to key swing states like Michigan, working to build support among Arab American and Muslim voters, particularly those critical of the Biden administration’s policies on the Middle East.
As part of this outreach, Boulos sought to reshape Trump’s image within these communities, encouraging voters to reconsider Trump’s pro-Israel stance from his first term and his often controversial rhetoric about Muslims and Arabs. During a campaign stop in Arizona this fall, Boulos addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza, stating, “Those massacres would not have happened if there was a strong president at the White House. The entire war wouldn’t have happened.”
Though Boulos has largely refrained from commenting publicly on the ongoing Middle East conflict or Trump’s potential policies, he has longstanding ties to political figures in Lebanon. Born in Lebanon, Boulos moved to Texas as a teenager and now splits his time between South Florida and Nigeria, where he oversees his family’s billion-dollar business empire, SCOA Nigeria.
In the past, Boulos has described himself as a Lebanese Christian and noted his familiarity with several Lebanese Christian leaders. In an October interview with Newsweek, he denied any affiliation with political parties in Lebanon and dismissed reports that he had pursued political office in the country. He has also acknowledged his connection to Sleiman Frangieh, a Christian politician in Lebanon allied with Hezbollah, but has clarified that he is not involved in Lebanese politics.
Trump’s reliance on family members and their close connections has been a hallmark of his leadership style. During his first term, Ivanka Trump served as a senior White House adviser, while her husband, Jared Kushner, played a key role as a Middle East liaison. Jared is expected to continue influencing Middle East policies informally in Trump’s upcoming administration.
Trump’s sons have also been central to his political operations. Donald Trump Jr. was a key figure in the reelection campaign and played a role in selecting J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate. Meanwhile, Lara Trump, Eric Trump’s wife and a seasoned political adviser, has been serving as co-chair of the Republican National Committee since March.
Massad Boulos’s son Michael has been married to Tiffany Trump since 2022, further solidifying the familial ties that continue to shape Trump’s administration and political network.
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