U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Lebanese American businessman Massad Boulos would serve as a senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. The announcement was made on Truth Social. Boulos, father-in-law to Trump’s daughter Tiffany, played a key role in mobilizing Arab American and Muslim voters during Trump’s campaign.
Boulos, a billionaire with business ties in Nigeria, moved from Lebanon to Texas as a teenager, later becoming a U.S. citizen. He has a unique ability to navigate Lebanon’s fragmented political landscape, maintaining ties with factions across the spectrum, including Hezbollah and its Christian allies, as well as anti-Hezbollah groups like the Lebanese Forces Party.
During the campaign, Boulos worked extensively in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, connecting with Arab and Muslim voters disillusioned with the Biden administration’s policies in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon. His outreach contributed to flipping key voters, helping Trump secure Michigan. Trump’s campaign invested heavily in this effort, hosting meetings with Arab American and Muslim leaders and receiving endorsements from Muslim imams and civic figures.
Boulos has deep political and social roots in Lebanon but has not visited in recent years. While he previously ran for Lebanon’s parliament alongside pro-Hezbollah candidates, Lebanon’s sectarian system limits his potential for senior roles there.
Trump’s appointment of Boulos, along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father as U.S. ambassador to France, underscores Trump’s tendency to include family connections in key positions. Experts believe Boulos’ ties to Lebanese and Arab communities may influence Trump’s Middle East policy.
Many in Lebanon view the appointment with cautious optimism, hoping Boulos could advocate for Lebanon. “It’s a nice thing… we hold on to optimism these days,” said a Lebanese elder, expressing hope for positive change.
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