In a move that highlights his signature style of family-first politics, 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 Trump, as his senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Boulos’ appointment underscores Trump’s reliance on family and close connections for key roles, a pattern that has defined his leadership style. The announcement came just a day after Trump revealed that another family member, Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of his daughter Ivanka, would serve as the US ambassador to France.
Trump, known for his tight-knit political circle, is clearly shaping his second-term administration by surrounding himself with trusted figures within his family network. His praise for Boulos was clear, highlighting his business acumen and key contributions to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
“Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the international scene,” Trump wrote in a statement shared on Truth Social. “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, 64, first crossed paths with Trump in 2019 when his son, Michael, began dating Tiffany Trump. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Boulos played a crucial role in connecting with Arab American and Muslim voters, particularly those dissatisfied with the Biden administration’s Middle East policies.
His efforts included multiple trips to swing states like Michigan, where he worked to build support in key communities. Boulos sought to shift perceptions of Trump among these groups, encouraging voters to reconsider his pro-Israel stance and controversial rhetoric about Arabs and Muslims. At a campaign stop in Arizona this fall, Boulos took a bold stand on the ongoing Gaza conflict, saying, “Those massacres would not have happened if there was a strong president at the White House. The entire war wouldn’t have happened.”
Although Boulos has largely kept a low profile on public commentary about Middle Eastern conflicts and Trump’s future policies, his deep ties to political figures in Lebanon are well known. Born in Lebanon, Boulos moved to the United States 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 a past interview, Boulos described himself as a Lebanese Christian and spoke of his ties to Lebanese Christian leaders. He has consistently denied being involved in Lebanese politics, despite his connection to Sleiman Frangieh, a Christian politician allied with the militant group Hezbollah.
Despite this, Boulos’ relationships in Lebanon remain notable, especially given the region’s volatile political environment. His statement distancing himself from direct political involvement in Lebanon has not dampened interest in his role as a key Middle Eastern figure.
The Trump family’s political influence, which has long extended beyond the president himself, shows no signs of waning. In addition to Tiffany Trump, Ivanka Trump served as a senior White House adviser during her father’s first term, while her husband, Jared Kushner, was tasked with managing Middle East relations.
Jared Kushner is expected to continue influencing Middle East policies informally during Trump’s second term, even if he doesn’t hold an official government position. Trump’s sons have also remained central figures in his political operations, with Donald Trump Jr. playing a critical role in the reelection campaign and selecting J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate. Meanwhile, Lara Trump, wife of Eric Trump, has been co-chair of the Republican National Committee since March.
With Massad Boulos now officially in the fold, the Trump family’s influence over his administration only grows stronger. Boulos’ position as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs solidifies his involvement in shaping key policies in this volatile region.
Boulos’ son, Michael, who married Tiffany Trump in 2022, further intertwines the family’s political ties, making Massad’s appointment even more significant. The appointment not only strengthens the Boulos family’s connection to the Trump administration but also signals the continuation of a family-driven political structure.
As Trump prepares for his second term, his reliance on trusted family members and their networks reveals his unyielding focus on loyalty and familiarity when making major political decisions. The appointment of Massad Boulos is a clear example of how Trump continues to trust family above all in shaping the future of US foreign policy, particularly in the complex and often contentious Middle East.
With the 2024 election campaign behind him, Trump’s administration is poised to move forward with this familiar family dynamic at the helm, shaping the future of US diplomacy with a sharp focus on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. As the new year approaches, it’s clear that family ties will remain a dominant force in Trump’s political strategy.
