US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he had chosen his son-in-law’s father, Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos, as a senior advisor for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs .
Boulos is a billionaire of Lebanese origin, and is the father of Michael Boulos, the husband of Trump’s youngest daughter, Tiffany, whom they married in 2022 .
Paul studied law in Texas, and practiced law, before moving to Nigeria where he owns a vehicle trading company, SCOA Nigeria.
His name was mentioned in the world of politics when he participated in Trump’s last campaign for the presidency, as he helped him attract Arab votes in swing states .
In an interview with Alhurra TV in July, Paul said that “changes and amendments were made to Trump’s speech” at the Republican Party conference to officially select him as the presidential candidate, as “it was toned down so that the conference would be inclusive of the Republican Party and Americans .”
Trump, in announcing his selection for the position, called him “an accomplished lawyer and respected business leader with extensive experience on the international stage .”
The president-elect added on his Truth Social account that he is “a longtime supporter of Republican and conservative values and has been instrumental in building new alliances with the Arab American community… He is a dealmaker, and a steadfast supporter of peace in the Middle East. He will be a strong advocate for the United States and its interests .”
During the Trump campaign, Boulos worked to mobilize Arab-American voters who were unhappy with the Biden-Harris administration’s stance on the Gaza and Lebanon wars, especially in states like Michigan, where the largest Arab community is concentrated. In his interview with Alhurra, he said that he “felt a positive welcome” from Arab Americans toward Trump .
Boulos said in a previous interview with Lebanon’s LBCI News , noting that Trump is “the only president in modern US history who has not started any wars .”
Paul is likely to play a role in any move by the Trump administration toward a Middle East peace deal, something Paul confirmed in his interview with Alhurra when he said that Trump would seek to achieve “peace” after winning the election .
He told media outlets a few days ago that he would travel to the region “as soon as possible,” expecting to be the main American negotiator to end the war .
Paul is the latest member of Trump’s family circle to take up a position in his incoming administration .
On Saturday, the president-elect said he would nominate Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to be U.S. ambassador to France.
