Massad Boulos

Early Life and Education

Massad Boulos, a prominent Lebanese-American businessman and lawyer, was born in 1971 into a Maronite Christian family in Kfaraakka, northern Lebanon. The Boulos family has a storied history in the region. Massad left Lebanon as a teenager for Texas, where he later pursued higher education, earning a law degree from the University of Houston.

Career

Boulos built a thriving career in Nigeria, where he expanded his family’s business empire, SCOA Nigeria, a conglomerate specializing in automotive sales and distribution. He later diversified into other sectors, including consumer goods, manufacturing, and hospitality. His entrepreneurial ventures extended into technology, sustainability, and healthcare, underscoring his commitment to addressing global challenges.

Political Engagement

Boulos’s entry into U.S. politics was catalyzed by his son Michael’s marriage to Tiffany Trump in 2022, which brought him into the Trump family’s inner circle. His political profile grew significantly during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, where he served as a senior advisor to Presidential candidate Donald Trump on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.

During the campaign, Boulos positioned himself as a liaison to Arab American voters, focusing on cities with large Arab populations. He emphasized Trump’s promise to end the war in Lebanon, portraying the president-elect as Lebanon’s “last hope.” This message resonated with many Lebanese Americans, the largest bloc among Arab voters, helping to secure Trump’s victories in key swing states.

Boulos met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024. Boulos used the opportunity to discuss the two-state solution and positioned himself as a mediator capable of navigating Lebanon’s complex political landscape. In November 2024, he met with Lebanon’s economy minister Amin Salam as well as the leader of the Christian Kataeb party, Samy Gemayel, who virulently opposes Hezbollah. At the same time, he is a close friend of Lebanese politician Suleiman Frangieh, a senior politician with ties to Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Boulos has balanced connections across the political spectrum, managing to distance himself from more controversial figures while maintaining influence.

On December 1, 2024, Boulos was appointed by President-elect Trump to serve as Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs. His appointment drew scrutiny due to his business dealings in Lebanon and Syria. These concerns have raised doubts about his impartiality as an advisor influencing Middle Eastern policy during the Trump administration.

In a December 3, 2024, interview with Le Point, Boulos discussed key regional issues. On Gaza, he emphasized the immediate release of hostages, urging that it be handled separately from broader discussions about Gaza’s future. He noted progress toward a temporary ceasefire with “prisoner exchanges” while highlighting the reduction in significant military activity.

Boulos described the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire as a historic agreement facilitated by the U.S. and France, focusing on disarming militias and controlling arms flows under Lebanese state supervision. Despite reports of violations, he expressed optimism due to the inclusion of international oversight.

Regarding Iran, Boulos affirmed the continuation of Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign, aimed at blocking Iran’s nuclear ambitions, curbing its missile program, and countering regional proxies. He indicated a readiness for nuclear negotiations without advocating regime change.

On the Abraham Accords, Boulos prioritized Saudi-Israeli normalization, with Saudi Arabia seeking a “roadmap” for addressing Palestinian statehood. He predicted that a successful deal with Saudi Arabia could encourage numerous Arab nations to formalize ties with Israel.

In May 2025, it was reported that Boulos has seen his influence wane despite holding formal titles, highlighting the limits of family ties in Trump-world. His unclear responsibilities, exclusion from key discussions, and “freelancing” behavior—such as distributing business cards with inflated titles and bypassing protocol—have frustrated officials. Though appointed a Middle East adviser, the role was widely seen as symbolic, and his continued involvement has caused confusion. Still, Boulos has achieved some foreign policy successes in Africa, earning praise for his role in a Congo-Rwanda deal. Now, Trump’s top Africa adviser, due to vacant positions, works under senior diplomats with a narrower portfolio, following concerns about his Middle East ties and media missteps.

Personal Life

Massad Boulos is married to Sarah Fadoul, the daughter of Lebanese-Nigerian tycoon Zouhair Fadoul. The couple has four children.

Sources: Henry Oduah, “Lebanese-Nigerian tycoon Massad Boulos speaks on son’s engagement to Trump’s daughter,” QED-NG, (January 24, 2021).
“Who is the Lebanese billionaire who helped put Donald Trump in the White House?” New Arab, (November 5, 2024).
Amelia Eva, “Massad Boulos Net Worth Forbes: A Look at His Wealth and Business Ventures,” TrendOxygen, (November 10, 2024).
Raya Jalabi, Andrew England, Aanu Adeoye, “The man who links Donald Trump with war-torn Lebanon,” Financial Times, (November 21, 2024).
“The Lebanese-American businessman in Donald Trump’s inner circle,” Economist, (November 28, 2024).
Ben Samuels, “Trump Taps Lebanese-American Father of His Son-in-law as Top Advisor on Arab, Mideast Affairs,” Haaretz, (December 1, 2024).
Geoff Earle, “Trump taps billionaire family member Massad Boulos for senior presidential adviser on Arab affairs role,” Daily Mail, (December 1, 2024).
@realDonaldTrump, (December 1, 2024).
Armin Arefi, “Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Iran: Trump's New Middle East Advisor Reveals His Vision to Le Point,” Le Point, (December 3, 2024). [French]
Ben Samuels, “Trump’s Mideast Appointees Raise Ethical and Political Concerns,” Haaretz, (December 31, 2024).
Felicia Schwartz, Robbie Gramer, “‘Everyone knew it but him’: Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law has seen role diminished since the transition,” Politico, (May t, 2025).

Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.