President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Adam Boehler as special envoy for Israeli hostage affairs in the Gaza Strip, in a post on his Truth Social network.
Trump expressed confidence in Boehler’s skills, specifying that the latter will hold the personal rank of ambassador. This appointment comes as Trump prepares for his return to the White House, in a context marked by discussions on the future diplomatic and foreign policy strategies of his administration.
Adam Boehler, former first managing director of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) from 2019 to 2021, has a distinguished career in business and government. Currently CEO of Rubicon Founders, a Nashville-based healthcare investment firm, Mr. Boehler has extensive experience in high-level negotiations and international diplomacy.
Boehler’s diplomatic skills were enhanced by his role as lead negotiator of the Abraham Accords, which led to the normalization of relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
His involvement in these historic negotiations, notably with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel, positions him as a seasoned diplomat, capable of managing complex international relations. Boehler has also negotiated with some of the most difficult political players, including the Taliban, a testament to his reputation as a tough and effective negotiator.
In his post, Trump highlighted Boehler’s success in difficult negotiations and stressed that the appointment reflects the new US administration’s commitment to returning its citizens held captive. “Adam knows that NO ONE is stronger than the United States of America, at least when President Trump is in charge,” Mr. Trump said.
The new special envoy will be charged with working tirelessly to secure the release of Americans detained abroad, an issue that has received increasing attention in recent years. His role will be essential in coordinating efforts with international partners and addressing the geopolitical challenges often associated with hostage negotiations.
Jared Isaacman at NASA
Donald Trump also named Jared Isaacman, the online payments billionaire and the first private astronaut to carry out a spacewalk, as head of NASA.
The appointment could raise questions about possible conflicts of interest, given Mr. Isaacman’s significant financial ties to Elon Musk, who is expected to co-chair a commission on government efficiency and is one of the closest advisers of Mr. Trump.
Isaacman, 41, founder and CEO of Shift4 Payments, has established himself as a leading figure in commercial spaceflight through his high-profile collaborations with Musk’s SpaceX.
He notably managed to get out of a Crew Dragon to contemplate the Earth from the void of space, while clinging to the outside of the ship, last September.
“I am pleased to appoint Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot and astronaut, to serve as Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),” said writes Donald Trump on Truth Social.
“Jared will lead NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in science, technology and space exploration.”
This historic release took place as part of the Polaris program, a collaboration between Isaacman and SpaceX which is expected to include three missions in total.
With AFP
