Adelsons to spend $100 million on Trump, Republican re-election bids
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Adelsons to spend $100 million on Trump, Republican re-election bids

Source says prominent donors could spend up to twice that amount, most will be funneled through political action committees

By Ron Kampeas 10 February 2020, 11:55 pm 4 Edit
US President Donald Trump receives a menorah from Las Vegas Sands Corporation Chief Executive and Republican mega donor Sheldon Adelson, left, and his wife Miriam Adelson at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Hollywood, Florida, December 7, 2019. (AP/Patrick Semansky)
US President Donald Trump receives a menorah from Las Vegas Sands Corporation Chief Executive and Republican mega donor Sheldon Adelson, left, and his wife Miriam Adelson at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Hollywood, Florida, December 7, 2019. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sheldon and Miriam Adelson plan to spend $100 million on electing Republicans and re-electing US President Donald Trump.

The Guardian on Monday quoted three Republican fundraisers that it did not name as saying that the couple, known for their generosity to Republicans, pro-Israel causes and medical research, was ready to spend nearly the same amount, $124 million, as they did in the 2016 cycle. One of the Guardian’s sources said it could reach $200 million.

Sheldon Adelson is a casino magnate and Miriam Adelson is a physician and medical researcher. The Guardian said most of the money would be funneled through political action committees and “dark money” groups that are not required to reveal donors.

The Adelsons did not favor Trump in the 2016 cycle until May of that year, something he has teased the couple about now that they are close. A number of Republican Jews were wary of Trump at first because of a confrontation between the candidate and the Republican Jewish Coalition in December 2015, and because he originally would not commit to moving the embassy to Jerusalem.

As president, however, Trump has delivered on Israel-related issues favored by the Adelsons to a greater degree than any of his White House predecessors. He has moved the embassy to Jerusalem, cut virtually all funding to the Palestinians, recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and advanced a peace plan that would allow Israel to annex nearly a third of the West Bank.

Trump awarded Miriam Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.

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