Alina Habba’s story is deeply intertwined with her family’s journey, which began thousands of miles away in Iraq. Her parents, Saad F. Habba and Maureen Habba, were part of the Chaldean Catholic community—a religious minority in Iraq that has long faced persecution. In search of a better and safer future, they immigrated to the United States in the early 1980s, eventually settling in New Jersey.
Fast forward to March 24, 2025—President Donald Trump appointed Habba as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. With growing public interest in her background and career, let’s take a closer look at her personal story.
Who Are Alina Habba’s Parents?
Saad Habba, her father, a highly accomplished gastroenterologist, went on to make a significant impact in his field. He is credited with identifying what is now called “Habba Syndrome,” a condition linking chronic diarrhea to bile acid dysfunction in the gallbladder. His work was published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology and other prestigious medical journals, making him a respected figure in the world of medicine. His career spans over four decades, and he has contributed to redefining the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.
Maureen Habba, her mother, on the other hand, dedicated much of her career to education, working as a schoolteacher while also managing her responsibilities at home. She played a key role in raising Alina and her two siblings in Summit, New Jersey, where they enjoyed a comfortable upbringing thanks to their father’s successful medical career.
Despite this, Alina has publicly claimed that her family struggled financially when she was young, even stating at a Turning Point USA event in June 2024 that they survived on “Coke and a pack of peanuts every day.” This statement has been met with skepticism, as her father had already established himself as a practicing physician by the time she was born in 1984.
Habba: Unlike you Kamala, I know who my roots are and where I come from pic.twitter.com/DMpdu2h861
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 31, 2024
What Is Alina Habba’s Ethnicity?
Alina Habba’s ethnic identity is rooted in her Chaldean Catholic background. Chaldeans are an ethnoreligious group of Iraqi Christians who have faced ongoing persecution, prompting many, like the Habba family, to flee their homeland. Though her heritage is Middle Eastern, she does not identify as Lebanese, a misconception that has circulated due to the geographic proximity of Chaldeans to Lebanon and their shared cultural similarities with Lebanese Christians.
In terms of religious affiliation, Alina has openly described herself as “very religious” and has identified as a Roman Catholic, aligning with her Chaldean heritage. However, her personal life reflects a blending of faiths. She married Gregg Reuben in 2020, a Jewish businessman who serves as the CEO of Centerpark, a New York City-based parking management company. This interfaith marriage has added another layer to her religious identity, though she continues to publicly embrace her Catholic background.
While Alina’s ethnicity is firmly rooted in her Chaldean-Iraqi heritage, she has often used her identity to emphasize her status as a first-generation American. Donald Trump himself highlighted this when he appointed her as his Counselor to the President in December 2024, stating, “As a first-generation American of Middle Eastern heritage, she has become a role model for women in law and politics.” This recognition has played a role in shaping her public image, particularly within conservative circles.
Despite her prominence in legal and political spheres, Alina Habba has kept certain aspects of her personal life relatively private. Her husband, Gregg Reuben, is rarely seen in public, and their life together is largely kept out of the spotlight, aside from occasional glimpses shared by friends on social media. Meanwhile, her father’s distinguished medical career continues, and her mother enjoys retirement after years of teaching.
