Overview
- A photo Rubio posted of a June 24 meeting in Abu Dhabi shows Michael Boulos, Tiffany Trump’s husband, seated next to Secretary of State Marco Rubio during talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed.
- Rubio told reporters the next day that Boulos had no policy role and was at the meeting to visit his brother and to 'catch up' with Rubio, who said they are friends.
- Boulos does not hold a U.S. government post but is the son of Massad Boulos, a White House adviser on Arab and African affairs, and a trustee of the Trump presidential library.
- Journalists, commentators, and some lawmakers criticized Rubio’s explanation as vague and questioned why a private businessman with prior reports of financial gains linked to Trump access was present at a meeting about Iran and Strait of Hormuz security.
- Democrats on the House Oversight Committee had already opened an inquiry into Boulos’s business dealings and the photo has renewed calls for answers and possible further oversight of who attends sensitive diplomatic sessions.