Tiffany Trump enjoyed a sea voyage on a yacht owned by a wealthy Turkish oil tycoon, while her father-in-law pursued business deals.
In a series of recent events, the activities of Massad Boulos, the father-in-law of Tiffany Trump, have come under scrutiny. Boulos, a businessman with ties to diplomatic circles, has been involved in negotiations outside traditional channels in Lebanon, Libya, and Africa.
His son-in-law, Michael Boulos, has expressed an interest in Libya's oil industry. However, any ventures in Libya's oil sector by Michael Boulos would require the support of the Dbeibeh government, which his father-in-law is currently negotiating with as a U.S. diplomat.
On July 23, Massad Boulos dined privately with Libya's national security advisor, Ibrahim Dbeibeh, to discuss sensitive matters related to Libya's energy affairs. The meeting took place in a confidential and secure setting.
Boulos's diplomatic efforts have not gone unnoticed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised him as a 'superstar' for his role in brokering the peace accord between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, the arrangement of a diplomat's family traveling aboard yachts of those who benefit from American foreign policy raises questions about potential conflicts of interest. The Phoenix 2 yacht, valued at over $1.4 million per week, features two helipads, a swimming pool, and an 18-foot bronze phoenix figurehead. The yacht is owned by Turkish petrochemical moguls Ercument and Ruya Bayegan, with whom Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos vacationed.
State Department officials have asked Lebanese counterparts to conduct diplomacy through the U.S. Embassy rather than directly with Boulos. Similarly, the White House advised Morocco to decline Boulos's request for a meeting with King Mohammed VI this summer.
The arrangement echoes criticisms previously leveled at Hunter Biden. Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos appeared as American dignitaries at Windsor Castle, despite Michael Boulos holding no government office. The couple spent at least 10 days aboard luxury vessels in the Mediterranean, including the Magna Grecia owned by Greek billionaire Ioannis Papalekas, during the same time period as their vacation on the Phoenix 2.
Libya remains split between an internationally recognized government in Tripoli and an eastern administration led by former general Khalifa Haftar, making American diplomatic engagement particularly sensitive to perceptions of favoritism. Boulos has discussed unlocking tens of billions in Libyan assets frozen since 2011, which could potentially violate UN Security Council sanctions.
Despite these concerns, Boulos has achieved diplomatic successes, such as brokering a peace accord between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, an accompanying mining deal remains unsettled amid questions about his role in the delay.
Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos joined President Trump aboard Air Force One for a state visit to Britain weeks after their luxury vacation. A spokesperson for BGN, the energy company owned by Ruya Bayegan, stated that she was not aboard the Phoenix 2 during the Trump family's stay, leaving the invitation's origin unclear.
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