Overview

• Eric Trager, a Republican Senate staffer and Egypt expert, is reported to be President-elect Trump's pick for Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa on the National Security Council.
• If confirmed, Trager would replace Brett McGurk, a key figure in the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war and other Middle East negotiations.
• Trager's background includes years as a research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, focusing on Egypt, Islamism, and U.S. foreign policy, as well as academic roles at multiple universities.
• The anticipated appointment would place Trager at the forefront of efforts to address the Gaza conflict, maintain regional ceasefires, and expand the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab nations.
• Trump's transition team has not officially confirmed the appointment, but it has drawn praise from conservative and pro-Israel voices for Trager's expertise and policy positions.