Trump to meet Republican mega-donor Adelson ahead of debate
Controversial GOP front-runner one of several candidates to speak with Jewish casino magnate courted for deep pockets
Controversial billionaire and Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was set to meet with conservative casino mogul Sheldon Adelson on Tuesday, the American political magazine Politico reported.
Adelson, who is Jewish and a supporter of several Jewish and pro-Israel groups, is a key mega-donor in national politics in the US, and the owner of Las Vegas’s Venetian Hotel, where Tuesday’s Republican presidential debate is taking place.
Trump is one of several Republican primary hopefuls who are meeting with Adelson on Tuesday, but unlike the others, he is unlikely to ask for Adelson’s financial support.
Politico cited Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who confirmed the meeting.
According to reports in recent months, Adelson is said to be leaning toward supporting Florida Senator Marco Rubio, considered a foreign policy hawk whose views are close to the casino magnate.
But sources close to Adelson suggested he had not yet decided which candidate he would support.
In the last presidential election year, 2012, Adelson was said to have spent as much as $100 million supporting Republican candidates.
Trump has prided himself in campaign speeches on not needing the support of mega-donors like Adelson, who other candidates were assiduously courting.
In October, Trump tweeted “Sheldon Adelson is looking to give big dollars to Rubio because he feels he can mold him into his perfect little puppet. I agree!”