US President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had picked Jewish real estate investor and campaign donor Steve Witkoff to be his special envoy to the Middle East.
As a pro-Israel donor and fundraiser for Trump’s presidential campaign, Trump said in a statement that Witkoff is a “tireless voice for peace.”
In an interview with The Bulwark in May, Witkoff explained that he secured “six-figure and seven-figure donations” for the Trump campaign from Jewish donors following Biden’s announcement he’d be pausing weapons shipments to Israel.
In July, Witkoff attended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech address to Congress, telling Fox News that it “was strong and it was epic to be in that room.”
“It felt spiritual,” he added.
No experience required
Witkoff has no known experience with diplomacy or the Middle East.
Trump also said he will nominate Fox News Channel host Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense.
“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” Trump said in a statement.
“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” he added.
Hegseth is an Army National Guard veteran and according to his website served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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