Trump taps Steve Witkoff for special envoy to the Middle East

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he would appoint businessman Steve Witkoff to serve as his special envoy to the Middle East.

"I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Steven C. Witkoff to be Special Envoy to the Middle East," Trump said in a statement. "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."

The post is likely to be of considerable relevance to the Trump administration in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and Trump's past diplomatic efforts in the region.

Witkoff, a notable Trump donor and supporter, was golfing with Trump during the second assassination attempt against him at Mar-a-Lago.

"He cared about his friends first. He asked about his friends first. And it was inspiring to watch him," Witkoff said of Trump's conduct during the event in a recent X space.