Trump names Steven Witkoff as special envoy to Middle East

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he has chosen Steven Witkoff, a prominent real estate investor and campaign donor, as his special envoy to the Middle East.

"Steve is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy, who has made every project and community he has been involved with stronger and more prosperous. Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud," Trump said in a statement.

Witkoff, the founder, chairman and CEO of real estate firm Witkoff Group, has decades of experience in property development and investment.

Witkoff, a notable Trump donor and supporter, was reportedly golfing with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate during the second assassination attempt against the former president in September.

In an interview with Fox News in July, he described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress as "strong" and noted that it was "epic" to be in the room. He also criticized the Democrats who chose to boycott the speech.