Who is Michel Issa, the new US ambassador to Lebanon?

President Trump describes Lebanese-American businessman as financial expert with 'remarkable' career in banking, entrepreneurship and international trade

Michel Issa, the American ambassador to Lebanon, after a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji in Beirut. Reuters

US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa travelled to Beirut on Monday to present his credentials to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Announcing his nomination in March, US President Donald Trump described Mr Issa as "an outstanding businessman, a financial expert, and a leader with a remarkable career in banking, entrepreneurship and international Trade".

"I have no doubt that he will serve our country with honour and distinction," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Mr Issa is Lebanese American. He spent his early childhood in Lebanon before moving to Paris.

He holds a degree in economics from Paris Nanterre University, says his official biography posted to the US embassy in Lebanon's website. He also studied at Cours d’Etudes Superieures de Banques in Paris.

His LinkedIn account says he has worked at a series of banks, including the Union of Arab and French Banks.

The ambassador, whose appointment was confirmed by the Senate early last month, previously served as president and chief executive of Newton Investment Group LLC, in New Jersey.

His LinkedIn profile says he has a passion for cars, and he left the banking sector in 1999 to focus on this, acquiring Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen dealerships.

Mr Issa has taken up a complex file at a difficult time. Lebanon is slowly untangling itself from a lengthy political crisis that stalled the formation of a government. An uneasy truce between Israel and Hezbollah also adds uncertainty to the country's immediate future.

He replaces Lisa Johnson, who had held the role since December 2023.