Trump says US 'stands ready' to help Lebanon, touts 'warrior' ambassador pick Michel Issa

US President Donald Trump has signalled renewed interest in Lebanon, saying his administration was ready to support the country's economic development and regional peace efforts, while praising his nominee for ambassador, Michel Issa, as a "warrior" with deep personal ties to the country.

Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump highlighted Issa's looming appointment as a turning point in what he described as a long-troubled US-Lebanon relationship.

"A friend of mine has just become the ambassador. He's gonna be great," Trump said. "I said, you know, that could be a very dangerous job. He said, 'I was born there. I'm Lebanese. I love that country'. I said, 'But it’s very dangerous'. I never thought of him as being a warrior, but he is a warrior. He loves his country. He said, 'If I’m injured or die, I’m dying for a country that I love'."

Trump described Issa, a Lebanese-American businessman and longtime acquaintance from New York, as well positioned to lead renewed diplomatic engagement with Beirut, particularly under Lebanon's "new generation" of leadership with President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, both of whom took office earlier this year promising reform.

"In Lebanon, which has been endlessly victimised by Hezbollah and their sponsor, Iran, a new president and prime minister have brought the first real chance in decades for a more productive partnership with the United States," Trump said.

His remarks came as Israel continued its military operations in Lebanon, mainly with air strikes in the south, where its forces continue to occupy five key border points in violation of a ceasefire agreement reached last November that ended more than a year of cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah.

"We're going to work with their new ambassador and see if we can really help them out," Trump said.

"My administration stands ready to help Lebanon create a future of economic development and peace with its neighbours," he added, in what appeared to be a subtle nod to possible regional normalisation efforts, including with Israel.

Trump's comments follow the nomination of Issa earlier this year. Originally from Amsheet in northern Lebanon, Issa has held senior roles in banking and the automotive industries and runs a social enterprise supporting charitable causes. He was awarded the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Francis in 2024 for his humanitarian work.

Issa's appointment still requires confirmation from the Senate, where Democrats have vowed to block Trump's diplomatic nominations in protest against measures to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and merge it with the State Department.

Once approved, Issa will replace Lisa Johnson, who has led the US diplomatic mission in Beirut since January 2024.