Pro-Israel megadonor Miriam Adelson takes center stage at Trump’s inauguration

As third-biggest contributor to the US president’s campaign, Tel Aviv-born physician, philanthropist gave $100 million in October, hosted inaugural ball alongside Mark Zuckerberg

President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles (left) and Miriam Adelson arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles (left) and Miriam Adelson arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

JTA — Viewers tuning in early to broadcasts of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday could catch a glimpse of a woman with long white hair standing next to Hillary Clinton and speaking animatedly with Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.

The woman was Miriam Adelson, the pro-Israel megadonor who helped propel Trump to both electoral wins and who hosted an inaugural ball alongside Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO who has more recently engaged with Trump.

Adelson, 79, born in Tel Aviv and raised in Haifa, is a major funder of pro-Israel political activity and a prolific donor to Jewish causes, carrying on a legacy she built with her late husband, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.

The Adelson family has long been one of the largest sources of campaign money for Republican candidates and has backed Trump during each of the last three general elections.

Now, the physician and philanthropist is wielding an estimated net worth of $35 billion on her own. She has carried on her late husband’s politics, though she is seen as more deliberate in her decision-making.

Adelson gave Trump’s campaign at least $100 million in October, making her the third biggest donor to his campaign, after Elon Musk, who is playing a key role in the administration, and the reclusive billionaire Timothy Mellon.

Miriam Adelson speaks with Rabbi Ari Berman before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

During the campaign, she introduced Trump before he gave a speech on fighting antisemitism.

She also appeared at a ceremony at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate marking the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Miriam Adelson arrives for the 60th US Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, January 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

From our archive: 5 things to know about Miriam Adelson

Some pro-Israel Republicans who were concerned that JD Vance, Trump’s vice president, might extend his isolationist outlook to Israel were reassured after Vance and his wife Usha sat with Adelson at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago earlier this month.

Vice President-elect JD Vance and Usha Vance stand with Miriam Adelson before President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a dinner at the Building Museum, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Adelson and the Vances appeared together again on Sunday night at a pre-inauguration party.

Most Popular
read more: