Adam Boehler
When Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov stepped back into freedom after more than 900 harrowing days in captivity in Iraq, the celebration was not only felt in Jerusalem but also in Washington. Behind the scenes, one of the key figures who fought for her release was Adam Boehler, US special envoy for hostage affairs – a role to which he was appointed by President Donald Trump.
Speaking to The Jerusalem Post shortly after Tsurkov’s release, Boehler was asked why he invested so much time in Tsurkov’s release, although she was not a US citizen. “Israel is a strong ally of the United States. And we care about our allies. I’m instructed by the president. The president cares about this case because she’s an Israeli, an ally,” he said, his tone firm and direct.
In Trump’s past administration, Boehler previously headed the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), where he oversaw billions in overseas investments. The peace-through-economics vision of then-Middle East envoy Jerard Kushner was brought to life by Boehler’s work.
He is known for improvisation and a willingness to take risks. He has earned both praise and criticism for meeting actors that American officials traditionally avoid – including Hamas.
Boehler shocked many in Washington and Jerusalem when he sat down with senior Hamas leaders to discuss the fate of Idan Alexander, the Israeli-American kidnapped during Hamas’s October 7 attack. Critics accused him of legitimizing a terrorist organization. Yet, months later, Alexander walked free – without any concessions.
Boehler makes no apologies. “At the end of the day, President Trump is going to stick through until all hostages are home. That’s what the president has instructed us as his team, and we follow his orders,” he stressed. For him, the outcome speaks louder than the criticism.
As wars rage in Gaza and tensions spike across the Middle East, hostage diplomacy has become a centerpiece of regional politics. For Washington ensuring that Americans – and allies – are not left behind is a political imperative.
Boehler sits at this main intersection. To his critics, he is reckless; to his supporters, he is bold. But to the families waiting for loved ones, he is, above all, a lifeline.
Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller has emerged as one of the most influential and controversial figures in American politics, serving as a key architect of restrictive immigration policies across two Trump administrations. Now deputy chief of staff for Policy and Homeland Security adviser in Trump's second term, he holds unprecedented power to advance his comprehensive immigration agenda.
During Trump's first administration, Miller crafted the controversial "travel ban" targeting Muslim-majority countries, systematically tightened asylum rules, and promoted border-wall construction. Supporters viewed him as a staunch defender of national sovereignty and law enforcement, while critics accused him of deliberately targeting immigrants and minorities through discriminatory policies.
Raised in a Jewish household in Santa Monica, California, Miller embraced conservative politics from a young age. At Duke University, his combative debating style and frequent media appearances gained significant attention, leading to influential work with Sen. Jeff Sessions, which formed the ideological foundation of his immigration platform.
After leaving the White House in 2021, Miller founded America First Legal, a nonprofit strategically challenging federal policies through extensive litigation on border security, vaccine mandates, and race-based programs. This court-focused approach effectively complemented his previous executive action strategy, maintaining political influence outside government.
In November 2024, Trump announced Miller's return in an expanded dual role, making him the youngest person and first millennial to serve as Homeland Security Advisor. Since January 2025, he has aggressively demanded increased ICE arrests and deportations while overseeing Trump's ambitious mass deportation plans and expanded detention facilities.
Miller's influence extends beyond immigration to broader conservative movement shaping. His Jewish identity continues sparking public debate – some see it reflecting American Jewish political diversity, others argue his policies fundamentally contradict historical Jewish experience with persecution.
Whether viewed as a calculating political strategist or a committed ideological figure, Miller remains one of Trump's most powerful officials and a defining force in Republican immigration policy.