American President-elect Donald Trump has received praise in America and further afield for appointing the first Arab-American member of his team.
Egyptian-born Dina Habib Powell has this week been named assistant to the president and senior counselor for economic initiatives. Powell is currently a partner at Goldman Sachs bank and, as president of the Goldman Sachs foundation, has supported initiatives empowering women worldwide.
Powell moved with her family from Cairo to Dallas, Texas when she was just four years old. It will not surprise anyone who has listened to the anti-Muslim rhetoric during Trump’s campaign that Powell is not a Muslim, but rather a Coptic Christian. Copts make up around five percent of the Egyptian population, or around four million people.
Egyptians have praised Powell’s appointment on social media. One Coptic bishop posted the following on Twitter:
We congratulate Mrs. Dina Habib Powell for choosing President Donald Trump her in the president-elect's team, wishing her every success pic.twitter.com/wP8NKGSBfm
— Anba Ermia (@Anba_Ermia) January 13, 2017
Other Egyptians tweeted to express their pride:
An admirable woman #DinaHabib #success https://t.co/dxU1SbGE91
— Om Habib (@omhabib50) January 14, 2017
بداية زي الفل يا حاج ترامب
— ا.دكتورة تويتر (@AL_EGY_ALEX_998) January 13, 2017
pic.twitter.com/x1WX6kyg4v
What a beautiful start, Mr. Trump!
شكلنا هنبتدي نحبك يا ترامب والا ايييه ؟! #ترامب يختار المصرية #دينا_حبيب مستشارا للمبادرات الاقتصادية في ادارته
— Ddy نبض مصر (@Dodyanoo) January 13, 2017
بالتوفيق يادينا pic.twitter.com/oh3MkGamDN
It looks like we're going to start to like you, Trump! #Trump choses the Egyptian #DinaHabib as an adviser for economic affairs in his administration. Good luck, Dina!
Powell also received congratulations from elsewhere, as this Kuwaiti Twitter user offered his support:
تعيين المصرية دينا حبيب مستشارة للمبادرات الإقتصادية للرئيس الأميركي ترامب وقد وهاجرت مع والدها ودرست في جامعة دالاس .. مبروك للمرأة العربية
— مبارك البغيلي (@M__albugaily) January 14, 2017
The appointment of the Egyptian Dina Habib as an adviser on economic issues to the American President Trump. She migrated with her father and studied at the University of Dallas… Congratulations to this Arab woman.
Powell is the fourth former Goldman Sachs executive to be appointed to Trump’s administration, which will take over after his inauguration in less than a week. Her role is expected to focus on entrepreneurship, economic growth and the empowerment of women.
RA
