Despite lacking diplomatic experience, billionaire Steve Witkoff has been selected by Donald Trump as his Middle East envoy due to his real estate negotiation skills.
In April 2022, a lavish wedding celebration was held at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, to mark the marriage of Zach Witkoff, son of real estate mogul Steve Witkoff. Former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania stayed until the end of the festivities to congratulate the newlyweds. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, renowned businessmen such as Barry Sternlicht, and baseball star Alex Rodriguez were among the guests.
While Elon Musk has emerged as a recent ally of Trump, thanks to his strong support for the Republican candidate's campaign in July, Steve Witkoff has long been known as one of Trump's closest and most loyal friends. Now that Trump has been elected as President, Witkoff, a real estate businessman, is set to become the administration's special envoy for the Middle East—a position previously held by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner during his first term.
Last year, Witkoff sold the Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan to Qatar’s Investment Fund for $623 million. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has also engaged in business deals with the American real estate tycoon.
"He is aware of what he knows and what he doesn't," said Marty Edelman, a real estate lawyer at Paul Hastings, describing Witkoff as someone who "understands the Rubik's cube and those who are twisting it." Sources familiar with Trump's decision noted that choosing someone close to the family means Witkoff could consult Kushner's approach to Middle Eastern affairs.
Kushner has expressed his willingness to remain involved in Middle Eastern matters, even without an official White House role. "I will offer them advice and assist them in any way needed," he said in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal.
Witkoff plans to discuss, collaborate, and seek input from Kushner, whom he trusts as having "in-depth knowledge" of the region, according to insiders.
Many foreign policy experts were initially surprised when Trump appointed Kushner during his first term. However, Kushner went on to broker the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between several Arab countries and Israel. Kushner also strengthened business ties in the region after leaving office, securing a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia for his new private equity fund and additional investments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.
Some have questioned whether a billionaire like Witkoff can fully grasp the complex history and intricacies of the Middle East. However, observers believe one of Witkoff’s key advantages as special envoy is that his views will certainly be heard by Trump.
The two first met in 1986, when Witkoff was working at Dreyer & Traub. Witkoff recalled that their friendship began with a chance encounter at a fast-food restaurant. Trump, who didn’t have cash on hand, "so I bought him a ham and Swiss cheese sandwich."
Sources familiar with Trump’s decision noted that choosing someone close to the family means Witkoff could consult Kushner’s approach to Middle Eastern affairs. Kushner has expressed his willingness to remain involved in Middle Eastern matters, even without an official White House role. "I will offer them advice and assist them in any way needed," he said in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal.
(According to WSJ, Politico, TRT World)
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