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Massad Boulos

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Massad Fares Boulos
مسعد بولس
Boulos in 2024
Senior Advisor for Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 1, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Secretary of StateMarco Rubio
Senior Advisor to the President
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 20, 2025
Serving with Elon Musk
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byTom Perez
Personal details
Born1971 (age 53–54)[1]
Kfaraakka, Koura District, Lebanon
Citizenship
  • Lebanon
  • France
  • United States
Political partyRepublican[2]
SpouseSarah Fadoul Boulos
Children4; Michael and Fares, Sophie and Oriane
RelativesTiffany Trump (daughter-in-law)
EducationUniversity of Houston–Downtown (BBA)
Texas Southern University (JD)

Massad Fares Boulos (Arabic: مسعد بولس; born 1971)[3][4][5][6] is a Lebanese-born American businessman and Senior Advisor to President Donald Trump.[7] He is the father of Michael Boulos and the father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany. He supported Trump's successful presidential campaign in the 2024 presidential election, and campaigned for Trump in Arab American communities, particularly in Michigan.[7][8]

Boulos worked as the CEO of SCOA Nigeria PLC,[9][10] a trucking and heavy machinery dealership company and subsidiary of the Fadoul Group in Nigeria. He rose to prominence in 2018 when his son began to date Tiffany Trump. While he was originally announced in December 2024 as a Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs advisor,[9][11] in April 2025, Boulos was also appointed as Senior Advisor for Africa.[12][13]

Early life

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Boulos was born to Fares and Marie-Therese in Kfaraakka, Koura, Lebanon.[14][15] He is the eldest of four siblings, Vivian, Philip and Michel. His father Fares Boulos served as mayor from 1998 to 2010.[16]. They are Lebanese Greek Orthodox Christian (Boulos' surname meaning the apostle "Paul" in Arabic).

He moved to Texas as a teenager.[9] He graduated in 1993 from University of Houston–Downtown with a bachelor of business administration degree.[9][11] Boulos also holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.[17] He was described by President Donald Trump as "an accomplished lawyer", however, he applied to take the bar exam in Texas in 1996 but there is no evidence of his admission.[9][11] No evidence has been found that Boulos is licensed as a lawyer in any of the following countries: United States, Nigeria, Lebanon, or France.[11]

Career

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In business

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After completing his education, Boulos moved to Nigeria and became the CEO of SCOA Nigeria PLC.[9][10] SCOA is a trucking and heavy machinery dealership. Its shares trade for about two Nigerian naira, roughly a tenth of a US cent, a penny stock with a market capitalization worth about $865,000 as of 2024.[9][11] Boulos’s personal stake is worth just $1.53 according to the company's latest annual report, as reported by the New York Times.[9][11]

According to the same article, when asked by The Times to confirm the multibillion-dollar valuation of his company, he said that describing it as "multibillion dollar" company was accurate and mentioned that "It's a big company. Long story." In other interviews, Boulos mentioned that he referred to the Fadoul Group's companies, which he said were collectively worth more than $1 billion and further added that "I've never gone into any details like that about the value".[9]

Boulos Enterprises

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Following Trump's announcement that he would appoint Boulos as a presidential advisor (see § US politics), he was "reported to have significant discrepancies between his public profile and documented business background".[18]

He later claimed he did not mean that he was actually associated with or owned Boulos Enterprises, and that he did not correct public reports because he "made a practice of not commenting on his businesses"; Boulos Enterprises is owned by another family of the same name.[9][11][19]

Following media scrutiny of Boulos' track record, Trump-Vance Transition Team's spokesperson Karoline Leavitt called the stories "fake news" and, in an email answering to the article published by the Business Insider, said that: "The truth is Mr. Boulos is a highly respected businessman who has proudly served as the CEO of some of his family's group of companies based in West Africa for more than 27 years and his family has employed tens of thousands of people around the globe".[20] Several Nigerian media outlets published an op-ed penned by Magnus Onyibe, credited as a non-executive independent director at SCOA, echoing Leavitt's press release and praising the company's self-described achievements in Nigeria and West Africa.[21][22][23][24]

Lebanese politics

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Boulos has links to Christian politicians and parties in Lebanon from Suleiman Frangieh of the Marada Movement, considered aligned with Hezbollah, to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and anti-Hezbollah opposition parties like the Lebanese Forces.[25][26] However, he has mentioned in interviews that he is not affiliated with any party in Lebanon and that he is acquainted with most Lebanese Christian leaders.[27] Both his father and grandfather were known figures in Lebanese politics, as his grandfather, Massad, served in Parliament and his father served as Mayor of Kfarkaara.[28]

According to Century Foundation's analyst Aron Lund, quoting a report in As-Safir, Boulos began his political career as an ally of Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, and represented it in Nigeria, where his father-in-law did business and funded the party's activities.[14][25] Boulos remained allied to Aoun after he agreed an alliance with Hezbollah.[14] When asked about his support for Aoun, he said that "as Lebanese Christians, most of us supported President Aoun's calls for Lebanese sovereignty from the late 1980's to the early 2000's (including the United States Congress and administrations); in fact in 2005, he enjoyed the support of close to 80% of Lebanese Christians as well as Muslims."[29] In October 2024, the Free Patriotic Movement declared they were no longer bound by their previous alliance.[30]

AP reported[31] that Boulos initially stood for parliament in Koura, but withdrew for another list involving the FPM, Marada (Frangieh's party), and the communists.[14] In 2009, the FPM shortlisted him, but Aoun eventually chose another candidate.[14] By 2018, he was a supporter of Frangieh's Marada.[14] He subsequently denied ever running for Parliament.[32]

Lund writes that Boulos' career "does not exactly indicate a firm commitment to either side in Lebanese or regional politics", and that his appointment suggests that Trump's Middle East policy "will often be more readily understood in light of the personalities orbiting Mar-a-Lago [a Trump-owned resort] than through an ideological prism or in terms of U.S. national interest."[14] Analyst Mitchell Plitnick saw Boulos as "a businessman and political opportunist" but that his nomination signaled the administration's willingness to engage with the Palestinians.[33]

US politics

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During the 2024 US presidential elections, Boulos campaigned for Trump in Muslim and Arab communities with Bishara Bahbah, who founded Arabs for Trump, and Richard Grenell. He sought to portray Trump as supportive of "global peace", according to Bahbah.[1] In an interview with The Times, he said that "There are 3.5 million Arab Americans, which is a huge number, and they just want their voices to be heard. And Trump has been listening".[34] Despite that, there was pushback against his outreach during some meetings, as some attendees criticized Trump's policies regarding Jerusalem.[35]

Yassin K. Fawaz, a political analyst, credits Boulos as bridging "the gap between Trump's campaign and these communities, ensuring that their concerns were not only heard but acted upon".[36]

Role as Senior Advisor

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Boulos has acted as an intermediary between the Palestinian Authority and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas and Trump.[37]

Boulos was involved in the 2024 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement. While he initially said that the Lebanese Army was fulfilling his duty in "an acceptable manner" regarding its role in the ceasefire,[38] he subsequently explained during an interview for Le Point that "there was an initial misunderstanding, particularly in Lebanon, where it was believed that the ceasefire agreement applied only to the area south of the Litani River".[39] He further clarified his position and reaffirmed the requirement that Hezbollah should disarm applies to the whole of Lebanon, not just areas south of the Litani river.[40] [41]

The New Arab quotes Boulos as saying that "the text is very clear in implementing United Nations resolutions, whether Resolution 1701 or 1559".[42] In an interview with MTV News, he asserted that the question of Iranian funding for armed groups, including Hezbollah, was an integral part of the ceasefire agreement.[43]

During negotiations for the current Lebanese government, Boulos was responsible for conveying the message that Hezbollah-allied Amal Movement, should play a less prominent role in the new government.[41]

In a meeting with Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council and activist settler, Boulos said that "in Israel, in Lebanon, and throughout the region, we want and hope for peace, and with God's grace, we will achieve it soon”.[38] His meeting and declarations were criticized by Palestinian advocates as promoting the "normalization" of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. He also attended an Iftar dinner hosted by the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. An article published by The Times of Israel noted the absence of representatives from countries that signed the Abraham Accords, as a result of the cool down in public ties between Israel and the signatory countries caused by the 2023 Gaza War.[44]

In March 2025, Semafor reported that Massad Boulos would be appointed Special Envoy for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region, reportedly due to American interest in securing a minerals deal.[45] Despite the lack of official confirmation, the move was praised by Kenyan President William Ruto, saying that the nomination showed a commitment to peace and stability in Africa.[46][47]

He was later confirmed as Senior Advisor for Africa, making him the State Department's most senior official to work in the continent. His appointment came after the White House failed three times to fill the position.[48]

Personal life

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Boulos holds Lebanese, French and American citizenship.[1]

He married Sarah Fadoul Boulos,[11] who was born in Burkina Faso.[49] Circa 1986, she lived in Houston, Texas, and graduated in Biology at Houston Baptist University in 1994.[50][51] In 1996, Sarah they moved to Lagos, Nigeria[49] and Sarah worked at SCOA Nigeria as the Director of Trading and Logistics.[52]

She is a philanthropist, entrepreneur[51] and dance coach[53] who in 2005 founded the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) in a small studio in her garage, gradually increasing its profile in Nigerian society.[54][49][50] Sarah mentions that SPAN has reached more than 10,000 youth since its inception.[55] More recently, she has been a franchisee of Creative Education International (CrEd) Lagos Island. As of 2020 she worked overseeing the imports[56] of her business,[57][58] La Pointe Delicatessen in Victoria Island, Lagos.[50]

Sarah and Massad are devout Christians.[59] Together they have four children, Michael, Fares, Oriane and Sophie.[50][53][60] In 2022, their son Michael married Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump.[14] Fares is an actor who played a brief non-speaking role in The Crown.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hayek, Caroline; Mardam Bey, Soulayma; Braidy, Nour (November 11, 2024). "Lebanon's Massad Boulos: Trump's new Middle East insider?". L'Orient Today.
  2. ^ "The Lebanese-American businessman in Donald Trump's inner circle". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "Massad Fares Boulos - SCOA.NG | SCOA Nigeria PLC - Wall Street Journal". www.wsj.com. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  4. ^ "SCOA Nigeria Unaudited Financial Statements" (PDF). March 31, 2023.
  5. ^ "مسعد فارس بولس". كفرعقا (in Arabic). Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  6. ^ "Scoa Nigeria Plc (SCOA.ng) 2024 Abridged Report". AfricanFinancials. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Swanson, Ian (December 1, 2024). "Tiffany Trump's father-in-law Massad Boulos to become senior presidential adviser on Arab affairs". The Hill. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  8. ^ Shalal, Andrea (November 16, 2024). "Trump's pro-Israel cabinet picks upset Muslims who voted for him". Reuters. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Maclean, Ruth; Scheck, Justin; Homans, Charles; Olawoyin, Oladeinde (December 12, 2024). "Trump's Middle East Adviser Pick Is a Small-Time Truck Salesman". New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Who is Massad Boulos? What we know about Trump's pick for Middle East adviser". The Independent. December 2, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Newsham, Jack (December 13, 2024). "Massad Boulos, hailed as a billionaire lawyer advising Trump on Middle East policy, probably isn't a lawyer or a billionaire". Business Insider. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "TRT Global - US dispatches Trump in-law Massad Boulos to DRC as M23 rebels continue offensive". trt.global. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  13. ^ "Announcement of Massad Boulos as Senior Advisor for Africa". United States Department of State. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h Lund, Aron (November 20, 2024). "Trump's Would-Be Lebanon Whisperer". The Century Foundation.
  15. ^ a b Andrews, Farah. "Who is Michael Boulos? Tiffany Trump's Lebanese husband". The National. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "في دار مسعد بولس: سيعود "دبلوماسياً" بصلواتكم - نوال نصر". نداء الوطن. November 15, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  17. ^ Newsham, Jack. "Massad Boulos, hailed as a billionaire lawyer advising Trump on Middle East policy, probably isn't a lawyer or a billionaire". Business Insider. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  18. ^ Gedeon, Joseph (December 12, 2024). "Questions dog Trump pick for Middle East adviser with inconsistent résumé". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  19. ^ Stieb, Matt (December 12, 2024). "A New George Santos Just Dropped. His Name Is Massad Boulos". Intelligencer. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  20. ^ Newsham, Jack. "Massad Boulos, hailed as a billionaire lawyer advising Trump on Middle East policy, probably isn't a lawyer or a billionaire". Business Insider. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  21. ^ Onyibe, Magnus (December 17, 2024). "Celebrating Legacy Of Boulos' Leadership At SCOA Nigeria". Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  22. ^ Aina, Damilola (December 16, 2024). "SCOA defends Boulos on Trump's appointment". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  23. ^ Nigeria, Guardian (December 12, 2024). "Celebrating the Legacy of Mr. Massad Boulos's Leadership at SCOA Nigeria PLC". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  24. ^ "SCOA Nigeria PLC celebrates Massad Boulos's legacy amid media criticism". This Is Lagos. December 17, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  25. ^ a b "Trump picks Massad Boulos to serve as adviser on Arab, Middle Eastern affairs". L'Orient Today. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  26. ^ Magid, Jacob; Reuters (December 1, 2024). "Trump announces Massad Boulos as senior adviser on Arab and Middle East affairs". Times of Israel. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  27. ^ Member, French Writers Page Mandy Taheri Weekend Reporter Newsweek Is A. Trust Project (October 10, 2024). "Tiffany Trump's father-in-law 'acquainted with' Hezbollah-backed leader". Newsweek. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  28. ^ ThemeLooks. "انتخابات بلدية كفرعقا «منازلة رئاسية أم عائلية»!". monthlymagazine.com. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  29. ^ Member, French Writers Page Mandy Taheri Weekend Reporter Newsweek Is A. Trust Project (October 10, 2024). "Tiffany Trump's father-in-law 'acquainted with' Hezbollah-backed leader". Newsweek. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  30. ^ "Bassil: The FPM is not 'in a situation of alliance' with Hezbollah". L'Orient Today. October 22, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  31. ^ "Trump allies hope his daughter Tiffany's father-in-law can help flip Arab American votes in Michigan". AP News. June 16, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  32. ^ Member, French Writers Page Mandy Taheri Weekend Reporter Newsweek Is A. Trust Project (October 10, 2024). "Tiffany Trump's father-in-law 'acquainted with' Hezbollah-backed leader". Newsweek. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
  33. ^ "The Shift: Who is Massad Boulos?". Mondoweiss. December 5, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  34. ^ York, Josie Ensor, New (June 25, 2024). "Could Tiffany be the Trump campaign's secret weapon?". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ York, Josie Ensor, New (June 25, 2024). "Could Tiffany be the Trump campaign's secret weapon?". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ Fawaz, Yassin K (March 12, 2025). "Massad Boulos redefining Arab and Muslim-American influence". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  37. ^ Rasgon, Adasm; Homans, Charles (November 10, 2024). "Palestinians Try to Sway Trump, Reaching Out to Tiffany Trump's Relative". New York Times.
  38. ^ a b "Massaad Boulos hopes for 'peace' between Lebanon and Israel". L'Orient Today. March 10, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  39. ^ "Massad Boulos Clarifies Ceasefire Agreement Includes Hezbollah, Affects All of Lebanon". MTV Lebanon. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  40. ^ "Militia disarmament includes "all of Lebanon" in ceasefire deal: Trump Mideast adviser". The New Arab. December 4, 2024.
  41. ^ a b ""لقص أجنحة الحزب وحلفائه".. رسالة من واشنطن للبنان عبر مسعد بولس!". www.vdlnews.com. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  42. ^ "Militia disarmament includes 'all of Lebanon' in ceasefire deal: Trump Mideast adviser". New Arab. December 4, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  43. ^ "بولس عن مشروع قانون أميركي يطالب حكومة لبنان بنزع سلاح حزب الله: طرح لا بأس به وحان الوقت لتحديد مهلة زمنية". Elnashra News (in Arabic). March 7, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  44. ^ Berman, Lazar. "Israel's US embassy hosts interfaith Ramadan iftar dinner". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  45. ^ "Trump to name daughter's father-in-law as DRC envoy as US eyes minerals". Archived from the original on March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  46. ^ Namwanje, Salmah (March 27, 2025). "Ruto, US Secretary of State Rubio Discuss AGOA, Regional Security, and Haiti Stabilization". Nilepost News. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  47. ^ Kenya, The Times of (March 26, 2025). "Details of President William Ruto, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Phone Call". The Times Kenya. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  48. ^ "Trump's daughter's father-in-law named Africa envoy". Semafor. Retrieved April 2, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  49. ^ a b c Ojoye, Taiwo (November 4, 2017). "Reason I created performing arts society –Sarah Boulos". Punch Nigeria Limited. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  50. ^ a b c d Portee, Ally (December 1, 2020). "Sarah Boulos Opens Up About Faith And Her Performing Arts Society In Lagos". SEELE Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  51. ^ a b "Footprint of David | Advisory Board". web.archive.org. April 14, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  52. ^ "Footprint of David | Advisory Board". web.archive.org. April 14, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  53. ^ a b Chika (October 11, 2024). "Mum Of The Month: Performing Arts Mogul Sarah Boulos". LagosMums. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  54. ^ "The ballet dance troupe started in a Nigerian garage". BBC News. April 29, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  55. ^ "Sarah Boulos Opens Up About Faith And Her Performing Arts Society In Lagos". SEELE. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  56. ^ "Sarah Boulos Opens Up About Faith And Her Performing Arts Society In Lagos". SEELE. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  57. ^ Nigeria, Guardian (October 19, 2016). "SPAN's Collaborate to Innovate enlivens MUSON Festival 2016". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  58. ^ "Footprint of David | Advisory Board". web.archive.org. April 14, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  59. ^ "Sarah Boulos Opens Up About Faith And Her Performing Arts Society In Lagos". SEELE. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  60. ^ "في دار مسعد بولس: سيعود "دبلوماسياً" بصلواتكم - نوال نصر". نداء الوطن. November 15, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.

See also

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