John Akouri proudly served as Co-Chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. A much sought after GOP strategist and political commentator, he honed his national election cycle scope through the years having served as a campaign volunteer for Reagan/Bush 1984; Michigan photographer for Bush/Quayle 1988 and 1992; official photographer for Dole/Kemp 1996; on the communications team for Bush/Cheney 2000; Oakland County Co-Chair for Bush Cheney 2004; Swing State Surrogate for McCain/Palin 2008; and Coalitions Co-Chair for Romney/Ryan 2012.
He is considered as one of America's most trusted speakers on the Middle East, a native of Detroit, award-winning television personality, Capitol Hill Advisor, and recognized civic leader. The innate knowledge he possesses of the history surrounding the lands that comprise the cradle of our civilization, enables him to masterfully navigate the politics that help, and hinder how we prepare and respond to today's new threats to global peace in the Middle East. One of the most in-demand motivational and public speakers in the workplace, at conventions, and on high school and college campuses, he can be frequently seen on FOX, NBC, CBS News affiliates and the AlHurra Television Network as a Middle East expert providing adept analysis and insightful commentary, as well as a myriad of television news and radio programs, including national newspapers and social media.
An accomplished and respected statesman who has made his mark in local, national and international affairs, he gained national prominence at the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC, where in his capacity as spokesman and chief speechwriter he worked with both the global and national press corps, as well as serving as a Middle East Senior Advisor assisting with legislative direction relating to international relations and global foreign policy issues. In addition to his working in a senior governmental position as congressional press secretary and communications director, he also served on many departmental projects, working closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. State Department, U.S. Census Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Army and the United Nations.
Prior to leaving his post within federal government to run for the Michigan House of Representatives, he served as creator and executive producer of "Window to Washington", nationally award-winning television program cablecast in over 30 cities, which he also hosted. Returning from Washington, DC to his hometown, he ran a successful first time campaign for City Council in Farmington Hills, Michigan and was elected as the city's first American-born Lebanese Councilman coming in as top votegetter. The youngest member in Council, he beams with pride of his heritage as an American of Lebanese descent, and the accomplishments the Lebanese American community has achieved here in the United States. Leadership indeed runs in the family, which hails from the northern port city of Tripoli, with paternal cousin, His Grace Simon Atallah, Maronite Bishop Emeritus of Baalbek-Deir al-Ahmar.
His active involvement in public affairs span the course of the past three decades, where he has been a leader in government, media and business at the local, state and national levels. With his global leadership inside the beltway, he routinely participates in high-level talks on a wide range of initiatives regarding Lebanon during meetings with key Lebanese leaders that have included: former President Amine Gemayel, late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, former Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, Central Bank Vice Governor Raed Charafeddine, former Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, and His Excellency Ambassador Farid Abboud.
