President-elect Trump appointed businessman Massad Boulos as his Middle East and Arab world adviser on Sunday.
Why it matters: Boulos’ appointment is another signal that Trump is expected to engage in a diplomatic push in the Middle East after he assumes office next year.
- Boules is expected to work with Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Between the lines: Boulos is connected to the Trump family through marriage. Tiffany Trump married Boulos’ son Michael in 2022.
- It is the second appointment Trump has made of a person connected to him via his children’s marriages. On Saturday, he appointed Charles Kushner, Ivanka Trump’s father-in-law, as ambassador to France.
- Boulos also ran Trump’s 2024 campaign in the Arab and Muslim communities.
Behind the scenes: Boulos has been the main channel of communication between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Trump in recent months, U.S. and Palestinian sources say.
- After the July assassination attempt against Trump, Abbas sent him a letter through Boulos. Boulos also coordinated the first phone call between Abbas and Trump after his reelection.
State of play: Israeli minister for Strategic Affairs and Netanyahu confidant Ron Dermer will travel to the U.S. this week for talks with the Biden administration and Trump’s advisers on the Gaza war, the hostage deal and Iran, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
- The sources noted that Dermer is expected to visit Washington and Palm Beach, but currently has no plans to meet with Trump. The two previously met on November 20 at Mar-a-lago. Dermer’s office declined to comment.
- Dermer has attempted in recent months to push a plan for the day after the war in Gaza that would be carried out in cooperation between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. A source familiar with the details said that Dermer believes that implementing the plan would establish a non-Hamas government in Gaza and would therefore end the war.
“Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene,” Trump, 78, wrote 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,” he added.
Trump pardoned the elder Kushner in late December 2020 on his way out of the White House. Jared Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump both served in his first administration. However, the pair has indicated they aren’t inclined to return in his second administration.
Boulos joins the likes of Trump’s longtime friend and fellow real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, whom he has named as special envoy for the Middle East; and US ambassador to Israel designee Mike Huckabee.
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During the 2024 election season, some observers mused that Boulos’ ties to the Arab-American community helped Trump make further inroads with that key bloc of voters as Vice President Kamala Harris suffered from defections over the Israel-Hamas war.
A Council on American-Islamic Relations’ exit poll indicated that Harris nabbed 20.3% support from Muslim voters — down from President Biden’s 69% support in 2020. Trump notched 21.4% support, while Green Party candidate Jill Stein scored 53%, per the poll.
