Hailing Adelson and her ‘$60 billion in the bank,’ Trump quips that she likes Israel more than US

Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

Miriam Adelson, center, is seated before President Donald Trump is due to address the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 in Jerusalem. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)
Miriam Adelson, center, is seated before President Donald Trump is due to address the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 in Jerusalem. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)

US President Donald Trump gives a shout-out to Miriam Adelson during his Knesset speech, noting her role in pushing for him to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017.

Trump asks Adelson, who is sitting in the gallery, to stand up, as lawmakers give her a standing ovation.

He quips that she and her late husband Sheldon made more trips to the White House than anyone else.

“Look at her sitting there so innocently. She’s got $60 billion in the bank,” Trump jokes about the GOP megadonor.

“Her husband was a very aggressive man, but I loved him… very supportive of me,” Trump says of the casino mogul.

“I get her in trouble with this, but I actually asked her once… ‘What do you love more? The United States or Israel?’ She refused to answer. That might mean Israel,” Trump says, smiling, while looking at the dual Israeli-American national.

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