Who is the Lebanese billionaire who helped put Donald Trump in the White House?

Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-born businessman, has recently become one of Donald Trump's key emissaries to the Arab American community, with a mission to secure their support for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

Boulos, a billionaire with extensive business ties in Nigeria, joined Trump's inner circle through family connections; his son, Michael Boulos, married Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump's youngest daughter, in 2022.

According to the Associated Press, Boulos was born in Lebanon and moved to Texas as a teenager, where he attended the University of Houston, eventually earning a law degree.

After completing his education, Boulos returned to his family's business and took over as CEO of SCOA Nigeria, a billion-dollar conglomerate specialising in the distribution of motor vehicles and equipment across West Africa.

Known for his calm demeanor and approachable personality, Boulos has earned respect within business circles as well as among Arab American communities.

Role in US politics

Boulos is no stranger to politics; he previously ran for a parliamentary seat in Lebanon in 2009 and maintains connections with influential Lebanese figures, including Christian politician Sleiman Frangieh, an ally of Hezbollah.

However, his entry into American politics intensified following his son's relationship with Tiffany Trump, which eventually led to his closer involvement with the Trump family.

Boulos's political reach is now focused on mobilising Arab American voters, particularly those dissatisfied with the Biden administration's stance on Middle Eastern affairs.

The Arab American community - a crucial Democratic voting bloc - has shown signs of dissatisfaction with Biden’s response to the ongoing Israel war on Gaza, with protests and significant opposition voiced in key states like Michigan.

Recognising this, Boulos and other Trump allies have worked to highlight Trump's approach as a better alternative, presenting him as someone who would prioritise stability and avoid further Middle Eastern conflicts.

Outreach to Arab Americans

Boulos has taken a proactive approach to Trump's campaign by tapping into longstanding connections within the Arab American community.

He actively engaged with Lebanese media to garner support for Trump's presidential campaign. In an interview with Lebanon's LBCI News, Boulos discussed his role as Trump's Coordinator of Arab Relations, outlining strategies to attract Arab American voters.

In an interview with Saudi-funded Al-Arabiya, he emphasised Trump's open-mindedness towards Arabs and Muslims, countering perceptions of bias, and highlighted the alignment of Arab and Muslim American values with the Republican Party.

Boulos also addressed concerns about Trump's past policies, such as the travel ban, aiming to reshape the narrative within Arab communities.

On the Lebanon-Israel conflict, Boulos had stated that if Trump wins the election on Tuesday, he would "act immediately to end the war in Lebanon and won't wait until his inauguration in January".

Trump's Mid East record and Boulos's message

Throughout his previous term, Trump made several high-profile controversial moves in support of Israel, including relocating the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognising Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, and brokering the so-called Abraham Accords with several Arab nations.

While these policies appealed to Trump's pro-Israel base, they created friction with Arab and Muslim Americans, who view them as signs of a one-sided approach.

Boulos's outreach has focused on casting Trump as a leader who, in his view, respects and understands Arab American values while still being a strong ally to Israel.

Trump has continued to portray himself as the candidate best suited to address Middle Eastern tensions, often criticising Biden as ineffective in this realm.

His recent threat to deport pro-Palestinian protesters as "supporters of Hamas" has drawn further attention, with Boulos acknowledging the importance of addressing these controversies directly in his community engagements.

The impact on the 2024 race

Boulos's influence is part of a broader strategy by Trump's campaign to exploit divisions within the Democratic base.

Trump's team is acutely aware of the protest vote that Biden encountered among Arab Americans, particularly in states like Michigan, where this community wields significant political influence.

Boulos, through private fundraisers and public engagements, argues that a vote away from Biden indirectly supports Trump's return to the White House, a message designed to resonate amid Arab American frustration with US foreign policy.

In Boulos's view, Trump offers a vision of peace and security that will benefit Arab Americans and the Middle East, framing the former president as the candidate who will avoid costly interventions abroad while maintaining stability.