Boehler withdraws nomination as special presidential envoy for hostages affairs

The big picture: Boehler has been at the center of a media and political storm since Axios revealed he had met directly with Hamas officials — making him the first U.S. official ever to do so.

• Although those talks were approved by Trump, they sparked anger among some Senate Republicans, some of whom took the issue up privately with the White House.
• That could have made Senate confirmation difficult.

News Nation first reported on Boehler's decision.

Driving the news: Last week, Axios reported that Boehler held two meetings with senior Hamas officials in Doha to negotiate the release of American hostages held by the group in Gaza.

• The talks between Boehler and Hamas have sparked great anger in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, including an angry phone call with Netanyahu's close confidant, Ron Dermer.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that Boehler's negotiations with Hamas were a "one-off" and stressed that Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is the main channel for negotiations on the issue of the Gaza hostage deal. He is conducting the negotiations via Qatari mediators and not in direct talks with Hamas, Rubio said.

What they are saying: "Adam Boehler will continue to serve President Trump as a special government employee focused on hostage negotiations," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios.

• "Adam played a critical role in negotiating the return of Marc Fogel from Russia. He will continue this important work to bring wrongfully detained individuals around the world home."