Trump Appoints Brother-in-Law’s Father as Middle East Advisor: Who is Massad Boulos
Trump Taps Son-in-Law’s Father as Senior adviser on Middle East Affairs
Washington, D.C. – In a move that further intertwines family and politics, President-elect Donald Trump has announced lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos as his senior adviser on Arab region and Middle East affairs. This appointment follows trump’s selection of Charles Kushner,father of his daughter Ivanka’s husband Jared Kushner,as U.S. ambassador to France.
Boulos, the father of Tiffany Trump’s husband, Michael Boulos, played a significant role in mobilizing Arab American support for Trump during the campaign, notably in Michigan. He has cultivated relationships across the Lebanese political spectrum, including ties to both pro- and anti-Hezbollah groups.
“He has been reaching out to parties across the spectrum of the multifaceted lebanese political scene,” a source familiar with Boulos told Newsweek magazine. “What is particularly noteworthy is his ability to maintain ties with Hezbollah, which holds a large number of parliamentary seats and ministers in the Lebanese government.”
A Bridge Builder?
Trump has expressed a desire to bring peace to the Middle East, and Boulos’s extensive network and experiance navigating complex political landscapes could prove valuable. Aaron Lund, a researcher at the Century Foundation, believes Boulos has the potential to influence Trump’s policies in the region.
“Paul, through his political past in Lebanon, doesn’t seem to have a clear vision or a big geostrategic plan, but he dose show political ambition and he’s in a network of allies who might seem like an engaging exception to Trump’s circle,” Lund said.
From Lebanon to the White House
Born in Lebanon, Boulos immigrated to Texas as a teenager and became a U.S. citizen. He holds Lebanese, Nigerian, French, and American nationalities.A successful businessman, he heads the SCOA group in Nigeria, a company specializing in heavy trucks and buses.
Boulos’s political involvement extends beyond the U.S. He ran for parliament in Lebanon in 2018 and has acted as a mediator between Palestinian President mahmoud Abbas and Trump.
Family Ties in the Administration
The appointment of Boulos further highlights the prominent role family members will play in the Trump administration. This move, along with the selection of Charles Kushner as ambassador to France, raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the blurring of lines between personal and professional relationships.
As trump prepares to take office, the world watches closely to see how his administration will navigate the complexities of the Middle East. Boulos’s appointment suggests a focus on building bridges and leveraging personal connections to achieve diplomatic goals.
Trump Turns to son-in-Law’s Father-in-Law for Middle East Advice
Washington, D.C. – President-elect Donald Trump is once again blurring the lines between family and politics, this time by appointing Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos as his senior adviser on Arab region and Middle East affairs. This decision comes on the heels of Trump selecting Charles Kushner, father of his daughter Ivanka’s husband Jared Kushner, as U.S. ambassador to France.
Boulos, father of Tiffany Trump’s husband, Michael Boulos, played a key role in galvanizing Arab American support for Trump during the campaign, especially in Michigan. His extensive network, including ties to both pro- and anti-hezbollah groups in Lebanon, is seen as a potential asset.
“He has been reaching out to parties across the spectrum of the multifaceted Lebanese political scene,” a source familiar with Boulos told Newsweek magazine. “What is particularly noteworthy is his ability to maintain ties with Hezbollah, which holds a large number of parliamentary seats and ministers in the Lebanese government.”
Aaron Lund, a researcher at the Century Foundation, believes Boulos could influence trump’s Middle East policy.
“Paul, thru his political past in Lebanon, doesn’t seem to have a clear vision or a big geostrategic plan, but he dose show political ambition and he’s in a network of allies who might seem like an engaging exception to Trump’s circle,” Lund said.
Born in Lebanon, Boulos immigrated to Texas as a teenager and became a U.S. citizen. He holds Lebanese, Nigerian, French, and American nationalities. A prosperous businessman, Boulos heads the SCOA group in Nigeria, specializing in heavy trucks and buses.
Boulos’s political involvement extends beyond the U.S. He ran for parliament in Lebanon in 2018 and has acted as a mediator between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Trump.
The appointment of Boulos, coupled with Charles Kushner’s ambassadorship, raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the merging of personal and professional relationships within the Trump administration.
The appointee’s deep connections in the Middle East will be closely watched as Trump seeks to navigate the region’s complexities and pursue his goal of bringing peace.