Donald Trump picks billionaire and Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law as top presidential adviser

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will tap his daughter Tiffany’s father-in-law for a top job in his administration.

US President-elect Donald Trump announced Sunday that he will tap his daughter Tiffany’s father-in-law Massad Boulos as his Senior Adviser to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.

“Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene,” Mr 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.

Mr Boulos, who was born in Lebanon, runs Nigeria-based Boulos Enterprises, which produces and distributes mechanical equipment and motorcycles, The NY Post reports.

Donald Trump (L) stands with Co-chair of the Republican National Committee Lara Trump (R), (from top L) daughter Ivanka Trump, daughter Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulo on July 18, 2024. Picture: AFP.

Massad Boulos has been appointed as the Arab and Middle Eastern senior adviser to the President. Picture: Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Mr Boulos is also CEO of the SCOA Nigeria conglomerate, which deals in everything from buses to construction equipment to work on power plants and importing fine foods. His net worth is estimated in the billions of dollars, according to reports.

Tiffany, 31, whom Mr Trump let slip in October, is pregnant, had tied the knot with Mr Massad’s son Michael Boulos in 2022. Mr Trump broke the news during remarks at the Detroit Economic Club.

“Massad is a deal-maker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East. He will be a strong advocate for the United States, and its interests, and I am pleased to have him on our team!” Trump went on.

On Saturday, Mr Trump announced Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as his pick for Ambassador to France. The elder Mr Kushner had been convicted of tax evasion, illegal campaign donations and witness tampering in 2005.

US President-elect Donald Trump will tap his daughter Tiffany’s father-in-law Massad Boulos as his Senior Adviser to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Picture: AFP.

The charges involved a scheme in which he was accused of hiring a prostitute to have a taped tryst with his brother-in-law so he could send it to his sister, as retribution for her husband co-operating with the feds in an investigation against him.

Mr Trump pardoned the elder Mr 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.

Mr Boulos joins the likes of Mr 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.

During the 2024 election season, some observers mused that Mr Boulos’ ties to the Arab-American community helped Mr 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 Ms Harris nabbed 20.3 per cent support from Muslim voters — down from President Joe Biden’s 69 per cent support in 2020. Mr Trump notched 21.4 per cent support, while Green Party candidate Jill Stein scored 53 per cent, per the poll.

Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos. Picture: AFP.

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That was particularly significant in Michigan, which has the largest Muslim-American population of any state within the US, particularly in Dearborn. Trump managed to flip back Michigan in the November 5 election.

Mr Boulos was born into a Christian family in Lebanon before moving to Texas for college.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah, a group that the US designates as a terrorist organization, reached a ceasefire deal with Israel that will see both sides scale back from Lebanon’s southern border over the next two months.

Mr Boulos has a friendly rapport with Suleiman Frangieh, a Christian ally of Hezbollah, according to Reuters. He hasn’t set foot in Lebanon in four years, per the report.

Unlike most of her half-siblings, Tiffany has largely opted to steer clear of the political fray, though she has appeared at key events to show support for her father.

This article originally appeared in The NY Post and was reproduced with permission.