D
onald Trump was joined by longtime friend Steve Witkoff, a fellow real estate developer, during the sixth test flight of SpaceX's Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas. The event marked another instance of Witkoff accompanying Trump on his campaign trail, having previously golfed with him at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach when a Secret Service agent fired at a gunman hiding near the course.
Witkoff has been a constant presence for Trump since October, speaking at his Madison Square Garden rally and testifying in the New York attorney general's civil fraud suit against Trump. The two have known each other for over 30 years, having first met in the mid-1980s when Witkoff was an associate at law firm Dreyer & Traub and Trump was a client.
Witkoff's real estate fortune is estimated to be worth at least $1 billion, with his company, the Witkoff Group, developing luxury condos and hotels in New York, Los Angeles, and Florida. He has also invested in golf courses, including the Dutchman's Pipe Golf Club in West Palm Beach, which he owns alongside Soviet-born billionaire Len Blavatnik.
Trump appointed Witkoff co-chairman of his inaugural committee on November 9 and named him special envoy to the Middle East four days later. As envoy, Witkoff will be responsible for promoting peace in the region, a task that may prove challenging given the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Witkoff's deal-making expertise has been successful in the real estate industry, where he has developed multiple luxury condo and hotel properties. However, it remains to be seen whether his skills will translate to diplomacy, particularly in the complex Middle East region. Witkoff has no experience in politics or diplomacy, but has had experience working with foreign investors through his real estate business.
As Trump's special envoy, Witkoff will likely face significant challenges in promoting peace in the Middle East. Nevertheless, his ability to identify and fix broken deals may prove valuable in this new role.
