Not even a week after being voted in by the American people as the new President of the United States, Donald Trump has already started to choose members of his Administration, and Reince Priebus, a Greek American, has been named as his White House Chief of Staff.
Mr Priebus’ father was of German ancestry, while his mother Dimitra was born in Sudan to Greek parents who originally came from the island of Lesvos.
According to a report by the Pappas Post, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee had often referred to his family’s humble beginnings when trying to avert criticism of his Republican standing equating to having money.
“I don’t come from a family like that. My dad’s an electrician; my mom was born in Sudan. Half my family lived in Greece,” Mr Priebus told Hellenext.
“I think what we believe is that everybody should have an opportunity to make good money, and we want people to do well.”
He recently made headlines, when he took the time during the heated election campaign to send a message of congratulations to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the 25th anniversary of his enthronement. Though it’s not all that surprising given he was raised Greek Orthodox and is a current member of the Archons, a group of men who have devoted service to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Given that Mr Priebus has such strong ties to his cultural heritage – he told Hellenext “I am proud to be Greek, it is a blessing from God to be Greek” – being in one of the most powerful positions in the Trump Administration also means that he will be in an ideal position to keep needs and concerns of the Greek American community on the President’s radar.