President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Massad Boulos, a Lebanese American businessman and father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany, as a senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Boulos played a key role in organizing Trump campaign efforts to engage the Arab American community in Michigan, resulting in Trump's victory in the majority Arab American city of Dearborn Heights.
Trump praised Boulos for his advocacy of Republican and Conservative values and his ability to build coalitions within the Arab American community. Both Trump and Boulos have expressed a commitment to bringing peace to the Middle East, although specific plans have not been publicly disclosed.
Boulos, who has previously sought political office in Lebanon, has strong connections to political figures in the country. Trump's other national security picks, such as Mike Huckabee for ambassador to Israel and Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, are known supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Boulos capitalized on divisions within the Democratic base over support for Israel's offensive in Gaza, a conflict that has resulted in a significant loss of life. Trump's narrow victory in Michigan in 2016 and subsequent loss in 2020 underscore the importance of engaging with diverse communities.
Trump's decision to appoint family members and their relatives to key positions indicates a continuation of his leadership style. He recently announced his intention to nominate Charles Kushner, father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, as ambassador to France.
