Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American entrepreneur, has been appointed as a senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs by President-elect Donald Trump. Notably, Boulos is the father-in-law of Tiffany Trump, the President-elect’s daughter. The announcement was made via Truth Social, where Trump emphasized Boulos’s extensive legal and business acumen.
“I am pleased to announce that Massad Boulos will take on the role of Senior Advisor to the President for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. He is a distinguished lawyer and a highly regarded figure in the business sector, possessing significant international experience,” Trump stated on Truth Social.
“Massad has consistently championed Republican and Conservative principles, contributing greatly to my Campaign and playing a key role in fostering strong new alliances with the Arab American Community. He is a skilled negotiator and a steadfast advocate for PEACE in the Middle East. I am confident that he will effectively represent the interests of the United States, and I am delighted to welcome him to our team,” Trump concluded.
Earlier, Trump appointed Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of his daughter Ivanka Trump, to serve as ambassador to France.
Who is Massad Boulos?
Massad Boulos, originally from Lebanon, relocated to Texas as a teenager to further his education at the University of Houston. His career commenced in Nigeria, where he became involved in his family’s automotive business, ultimately attaining leadership roles at SCOA Motors and Boulos Enterprises.
Some reports indicate that Mr. Boulos attempted to secure a parliamentary seat in Lebanon in 2009 but was unsuccessful. He is said to have maintained connections with the Christian political elite in the country, partly due to his father-in-law’s financial backing of the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party that has ties to Hezbollah. Mr. Boulos has refuted these allegations.
In an interview with Newsweek in October 2024, he stated that he does not belong to any political party in Lebanon, although he admitted to being “acquainted with most Lebanese Christian leaders,” including a presidential candidate endorsed by Hezbollah. He also denied previous claims made by Arab News and the Associated Press regarding his supposed candidacy for parliament. In a June interview with the Associated Press, Mr. Boulos referred to himself as a “friend” of Suleiman Frangieh, the leader of Lebanon’s Marada Movement, whose presidential aspirations are supported by Hezbollah. Notably, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who endorsed Frangieh in 2023, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut in September.
Mr. Boulos comes from a politically influential family, with both his father and grandfather having significant roles in Lebanese politics. His father-in-law has been a prominent financial supporter of the Free Patriotic Movement, which is allied with Hezbollah. Recently, Mr. Boulos has been instrumental in Donald Trump’s campaign, concentrating on garnering support from Arab American voters in critical states such as Michigan. According to Axios, he has also served as a vital intermediary between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Trump, facilitating discussions in the months leading up to the election.
Michael Boulos, the son of Massad Boulos, married Tiffany Trump in a lavish ceremony at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida in November 2022, following their engagement in the White House Rose Garden during Trump’s first term.
