Several Lebanese-Americans have been appointed to key positions in the new American administration set up by Donald Trump. Among them, three have been appointed ambassadors (Turkey, Lebanon and Tunisia). Massad Boulos has become Senior Advisor to the President of the United States.
Tom Barrack Jr
Tom Barrack Jr, born in 1947, is a businessman and founder of Colony Capital, a real estate investment company. His grandparents, originally from Zahle, immigrated to the United States in 1900. A great friend of Donald Trump, Tom Barrack Jr has long supported his election campaigns. For the 2016 presidential campaign, he was Trump's senior advisor and chaired his inaugural committee. In December, he was appointed US Ambassador to Turkey.
Michel Issa
Michel Issa, born in Beirut, is a Lebanese-American who worked for several years in the banking sector, notably with the Union des banques arabes et françaises and Chase Manhattan Bank. In 1999, he decided to change careers and devote himself to his passion for cars. According to some media reports, he is a personal friend and golfing partner of Donald Trump. He was appointed US Ambassador to Lebanon.
Bill Bazzi
Bill Bazzi was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States at the age of 10. After a long military career in the US Army, he became mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, in 2021. In October 2024, he announced his support for Donald Trump, arguing that Trump would limit wars in the Middle East and focus more on the economy and immigration. He has been appointed US Ambassador to Tunisia.
Massad Boulos
Massad Boulos, originally from Kfaraakka, immigrated to the United States in his teens. The businessman was Managing Director of SCOA Nigeria PLC, a truck and heavy equipment dealer. His son Michael married Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany in 2022. During the presidential campaign, he actively campaigned for Arab-American support in Michigan. In addition to his appointment as Senior Advisor for Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs, he has also been designated as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of East Africa.
These appointments testify to the importance of the Lebanese-American community in the upper echelons of the United States. However, most of these appointments must be confirmed by the US Senate before taking up their duties. This will be challenging as the Democrats plan to massively attack Trump's appointments.
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