Alappuzha, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Michael Boulos, businessman and son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, made a surprise visit to Alappuzha on Saturday, enjoying a houseboat ride through the rain-lashed backwaters amid elaborate security arrangements by the Kerala Police.
Boulos, who has been accorded State Guest status during his Kerala visit, arrived in Alappuzha with an eight-member delegation.
Heavy rainfall in the district in recent days had flooded the main entrance to Punamada Lake. Police consequently arranged an alternative route to take Boulos to the houseboat from another location.
Despite the wet weather, Boulos appeared to enjoy the cruise through the famed backwaters. On several occasions, he stepped onto the deck and waved to people who had gathered after learning about his visit.
His unexpected arrival generated considerable interest in Alappuzha, popularly known as the ‘Venice of the East’ for its network of canals, lagoons and houseboats. Sources said Boulos was expected to return to Kochi later in the day.
The visit came ahead of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, one of Kerala’s most prominent sporting and cultural events, scheduled to be held in Alappuzha on August 22. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to attend the event as chief guest.
The prestigious boat race is named after India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. During his visit to Alappuzha in 1952, Nehru reportedly boarded a traditional snake boat and was so impressed by the experience that, after returning to Delhi, he donated a trophy for a boat race.
Boulos was born in Houston and raised in Lagos. He is married to Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump. The couple married in 2022 and welcomed their first child in May 2025.
His visit added an international dimension to Alappuzha’s bustling monsoon-season backwater tourism, as the district also prepares for its major annual boat-racing spectacle.
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