Trump highlights the influential donor who contributed over $100 million to his trump-lachlan-murdoch-tiktok-deal/” title=”… Reveals Lachlan Murdoch's Key Role in Proposed TikTok Deal | Social Media News”>2024 presidential campaign, emphasizing her strong support for Israel.
During his address to the Israeli Knesset commemorating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, President Donald Trump expressed gratitude toward American diplomats, military leaders, and regional partners who played a role in brokering the deal.
Among those acknowledged was Miriam Adelson, a prominent pro-Israel philanthropist and major financial backer of Trump. The president remarked on her vast wealth, stating she holds “$60 billion in her account” and underscored her deep affection for Israel.
“Look at her sitting there so innocently,” Trump quipped.
He then shared a lighthearted moment, recounting a time he asked Adelson whether she loved the United States or Israel more. “She wouldn’t answer, which might be a bit of a dilemma,” he joked, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Adelson, known for her Las Vegas casino empire, contributed $106 million to Preserve America, a super PAC supporting Trump’s election efforts last year.
Seated in the Knesset gallery, she received a standing ovation as Trump praised her unwavering commitment to Israel, noting she had visited the White House more times than anyone else.
From Physician to Influential Power Player
Born in Tel Aviv in 1945 to Polish immigrant parents, Miriam Adelson initially pursued a career in medicine, specializing in addiction therapy.
Her life took a significant turn in 1991 when she married Sheldon Adelson, a self-made billionaire who transformed Las Vegas Sands into a global casino powerhouse with properties spanning Asia and the United States.
At the time of their marriage, Miriam already held a majority stake in the company. Following Sheldon’s passing in 2021, she assumed full control of Las Vegas Sands, which manages major resorts in Singapore and Macau.
Sheldon Adelson was a leading Republican donor, channeling millions to candidates supportive of Israel.
In 2022, the family divested their iconic Las Vegas Strip assets, including the Venetian, in a $6.25 billion deal.
Expanding her portfolio, Miriam acquired majority ownership of the Dallas Mavericks basketball franchise in 2023.
Influencing Trump’s Middle East Policies
Trump frequently recounts how the Adelsons regularly visited the White House during his first term, advocating for policies favorable to Israel.
He reiterated this on Monday, stating, “Miriam and Sheldon were constant visitors to the Oval Office. I believe they had more visits than anyone else.”
The Adelsons have wielded considerable sway within conservative circles in the US.
As devoted Zionists with connections to right-wing American political figures, they emerged as major Republican donors throughout the 2010s, contributing over $600 million to support Trump’s presidential bids and other GOP candidates since 2015.
Following the October 7 attacks, Miriam’s stance grew even more resolute. Writing in Israel Hayom, a widely circulated newspaper she owns, she called for a firm response against Israel’s detractors worldwide.
“Those abroad who champion Hamas are adversaries-ideological enablers in the West of those intent on our eradication from the Middle East. They should be regarded as enemies,” she declared.
Her steadfast support for Trump and the Republican Party has cemented her close ties to the White House.
The couple was instrumental in urging Trump to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2016 and to officially recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights during his administration. In 2018, Trump honored Miriam with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
At a campaign rally in September, Adelson urged Jewish voters to fulfill their “sacred duty” by backing Trump, praising his past achievements and expressing confidence in his future actions.
She also endorsed last year’s stringent measures against pro-Palestinian student protests, dismissing the demonstrations in Forbes Israel as “distasteful gatherings of radical activists, including Muslim and Black Lives Matter supporters, ultra-progressives, and professional agitators-nothing more than street parties.”
