Trump Appoints Real Estate Mogul Steven Witkoff as Middle East Envoy

Witkoff, a longtime friend and major campaign donor, steps into a diplomatic role amid heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Steven Witkoff, a prominent real estate investor and Trump's close ally, has been named as the Special Envoy to the Middle East despite lacking diplomatic experience.
Witkoff's appointment comes as the region faces its most significant conflict between Israelis and Palestinians since 1948, with ongoing hostilities in Gaza.
The new envoy has a direct line to Trump, which could be advantageous in negotiations with Middle Eastern leaders.
Trump's administration aims to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, broker Israeli-Saudi normalization, and revisit Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
Critics point to Witkoff's lack of diplomatic background, drawing parallels to Jared Kushner's successful yet unconventional diplomatic role during Trump's first term.