Hagar Hajjar Chemali (born Hagar Hadi Hajjar; September 4, 1981) is an American political satirist,The world according to Hagar Chemali at L’Orient le Jour; by Irene Mosalli; published October 9, 2020; retrieved October 16, 2021 writer, producer, television personality, and political commentator.North Korea is sanctions-busting by exceeding oil import cap, U.S. tells UN in new report at CBS News; by Pamela Falk; published June 12, 2019; retrieved October 16, 2021Will Nikki Haley put the U.S. in Russia's corner? at Politico; by Nahal Toosi and Benjamin Oreskes; published November 23, 2016; retrieved October 16, 2021Trump and Congress battle over Middle East weapons sales at MSNBC; by Ali Velshi; published July 26, 2019; retrieved October 16, 2021 Chemali has held senior national security and public affairs positions under the Barack Obama and George W. Bush administrations. She comments and writes on national security and foreign policy.Shaky cease-fire in place between Armenia & Azerbaijan at MSNBC; published October 10, 2020What is the President’s strategy when it comes to Iran? at MSNBC; published June 21, 2019; retrieved October 16, 2021Chemali: No Doubt Iran Behind Tanker Attacks at Bloomberg.com; published June 17, 2019; retrieved October 16, 2021
Early life and education Chemali was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Hadi and Mirella (née Joakim) Hajjar.Hagar Hajjar Chémali: from the White House to the US “Treasury” at L’Orient le Jour; by Irene Mosalli; published March 29, 2013; retrieved October 16, 2021Political Poise at Greenwich Magazine; published Tomothy Dumas; retrieved October 16, 2021 Chemali's great-granduncle was the first president of Lebanon, Bechara el-Khoury.
Chemali studied Political Science at Barnard College, earning her bachelor's degree in 2003. She attended Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs where she concentrated on International Security Policy with a focus on the Middle East. She graduated from Columbia with her Master of International Affairs in 2004.Secure in Her Voice at Fairfield County Look; by Michele Graham; retrieved October 16, 2021Alums in Leadership: Politics + Policy at Greenwich Academy; published 2020; retrieved October 16, 2021
Career U.S. Government In 2003, Chemali held an internship position at the United Nations Department for Political Affairs. She was later hired by the United States government as a Legislative Fellow for the Office of Congressman Christopher Shays in Connecticut, where she stayed until 2006.
Chemali joined the United States Department of the Treasury in 2006 as a Special Advisor to then Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, Daniel Glaser. She became a Policy Advisor on the Middle East in 2007 where she remained until 2010.
Chemali held a number of policy-making and public affairs positions during Barack Obama's presidency. In 2010, she became the Director for Syria and Lebanon at the National Security Council (NSC), where she worked on U.S. foreign policy toward Syria and Lebanon, including during the first year and a half of the Syria crisis.
At the end of 2012, Chemali returned to the Treasury Department and became a Senior Policy Advisor on Asia with the Treasury Department's Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes. In 2014, she became the Spokesperson for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department. From 2015 to 2016, Chemali was the Spokesperson and Director of Communications for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under President Obama.Gay and Marked for Death at New York Times; by Frank Bruni; published August 21, 2015; retrieved October 16, 2021U.S., allies call for new UN meeting on North Korea human rights at Reuters; by Louis Charbonneau; published December 3, 2015; retrieved October 16, 2021U.N. council plans emergency meeting on reported North Korea nuclear test at Reuters; by Louis Charbonneau; published January 6, 2016; retrieved October 16, 2021
In media After leaving the U.S. Government in 2016, Chemali has occasionally served as a political commentator, speaking mostly as a foreign policy analyst.Fighting continues on Syria-Turkey border despite ceasefire at MSNBC; published October 18, 2019; retrieved October 16, 2021
She appears as a frequent contributor on Bloomberg programs such as "Balance of Power," where she engages in detailed discussions on geopolitical developments including the Israel-Hamas conflict and regional diplomacy.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-10-13/balance-of-power-early-edition-10-13-2025-video
Chemali founded Greenwich Media Strategies in 2016, a communications consulting firm.KOCHS SPEND LESS on federal politics -- ENERGY SECRETARY Ernest Moniz headlines Playbook Breakfast on Wed. – BOEHNER is back – SCOOP on N.Y. Times international plans -- B’DAY: Michael O’Hanlon at Politico; by Mike Allen; published May 16, 2016; retrieved October 16, 2021 In 2019, she became a Senior Nonresident Fellow with the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center.ISIS in South Asia: options and ways to respond at Atlantic Council; by Aditya Ramachandran; published August 21, 2017; retrieved October 16, 2021Economic Sanctions Initiative GeoEconomics Center at Atlantic Council; retrieved October 16, 2021 In 2020, she launched a weekly world news show on YouTube called Oh My World!Coronavirus — the parallel pandemic at Politico; by Ryan Heath; published May 1, 2020; retrieved October 16, 2021
Personal life Hagar married private equity operating executive, Julien Chemali, in 2010. They have three children.Hagar Hajjar & Julien Chemali at Greenwich Magazine; published May 24, 2011; retrieved October 16, 2021 Chemali is on the board of directors for the Greenwich United Way and the Serve America Movement (SAM), at Join SAM; retrieved October 16, 2021 as well as her alma mater Greenwich Academy.Greenwich Academy Graduate Discusses Her Career In Politics at Daily Voice; by Eric Gendron; published January 1, 2014; retrieved October 16, 2021The European Magnitsky Law—A milestone with a lot of potential at Atlantic Council; published December 10, 2020; retrieved October 16, 2021
References
External links
Hagar Chemali on YouTube Hagar Chemali on Instagram Hagar Chemali on Facebook Hagar Chemali on Twitter