Daniel Benaim is a prominent U.S. foreign policy specialist with extensive experience in Middle East affairs, speechwriting, and policy analysis. Early in his career, he served as chief speechwriter to Senator John Kerry and as a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. During the Hillary Clinton era at the State Department, he was a member of the Policy Planning Staff covering the Middle East, writing speeches for Secretary Clinton, Deputy Secretary Bill Burns, and Deputy Secretary Tom Nides. He has also held roles at the Center for American Progress. In the Biden administration, he advanced to senior positions including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs from 2021 to 2025, NSC Senior Director for Speechwriting and Strategic Initiatives, and Special Assistant to the President. Previously, he served as a foreign policy expert in the Obama administration. His writings have been published in The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, and other outlets. He is affiliated with the Middle East Institute and The Century Foundation, continuing his work as a foreign policy analyst, as noted in congressional records.