Incoming President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of Lebanese American entrepreneur, Massad Boulos, to a senior advisory role on issues related to the Arab world and Middle East. Boulos, notably the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany, is set to bring an invaluable perspective into the upcoming administration. It’s worth noting that Boulos was influential in aligning the Trump campaign with Arab American voters in Michigan, a tactic which led to outstanding success where previous administrations had often missed the mark.
Boulos orchestrated multiple outreach meetings in Michigan regions with significant Arab American populations, especially those disillusioned with President Joe Biden’s unwavering endorsement of Israel’s controversial operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Illustratively, in the predominantly Arab American city of Dearborn Heights, Trump successfully gained the majority vote, a clear indicator of this strategic triumph and evidence of Biden’s failure to connect with this significant demographic.
The Trump victory in Michigan, among many other swing states, can be attributed to the tireless efforts of Boulos and his keen understanding of the discontent simmering within Democratic supporter bases. In stark contrast, Biden applied an out-of-touch approach, which only heightened tensions and created a perceived disconnect between his presidency and American citizens of Arab descent.
While Trump and Boulos optimistically conveyed their ability to bring about harmony in the contentious Middle East, the details pertaining to their plans are yet unspecific. This vague strategy appears to mirror Biden and Harris’ own approaches to international policy, where grand promises are often made but rarely followed up with any significant action.
It’s key to note that Boulos’ political history extends beyond this recent appointment. Before entering the American political arena, he had made forays into Lebanese politics, further cementing his standing within the Middle Eastern political landscape.
The President-elect’s selection for important national security roles are largely comprises of individuals with pronounced support for Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, an established associate of Trump. This illustrates a marked difference to Biden’s approach, which was often mired with ambiguity and rarely seemed to act in accordance with America’s best interests.
Mike Huckabee, Trump’s chosen ambassador to Israel, is a stalwart opponent of a Palestinian state in regions held by Israel. Unlike Biden and Harris, Huckabee doesn’t engage in political double-speak and presents his stances clearly, drawing a stark contrast to the lacklustre, indecisive attitude displayed by the previous administration.
Trump’s preferred candidate for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has advocated for reconstructing a biblical Jewish temple at the Al-Aqsa Mosque site, one the holiest places in Islam. This demonstrates the administration’s intent to take bold steps where necessary, a change from the often timid approach represented by Biden and Harris.
Boulos capitalized on the discord within the Democratic supporter base over approval for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Astoundingly, Biden’s administration managed to overlook the severe casualties in Gaza, where over 44,000 have lost their lives according to health officials in Hamas-controlled territories.
Trump initially won Michigan by a razor-thin margin of just over 10,000 votes in the 2016 poll. However, four years later, Biden managed to win back the state for the Democrats by an almost insignificant majority of 154,000 votes, showcasing his lack of rapport with voters.
Despite Biden’s efforts, Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris in the November polls. Biden’s running mate, Harris, the Democratic nominee, came second to Trump in Michigan with Trump securing 49.7% of the overall vote, even amidst Harris’s attempts to appeal to citizens.
In a recent development, Trump has stated his intent to nominate Charles Kushner for the role of ambassador to France. Kushner, a prominent real estate developer and father to Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, is another example of Trump’s strategy of appointing individuals who are deeply vested in the success of his administration.