In the neon-lit grandeur of Las Vegas, where fortunes can pivot with the drop of a card, a new high-stakes political wager is being placed. Dr. Miriam Adelson, the indomitable matriarch of the Sands empire, steps into the political arena once more, preparing to unsheathe her financial clout to propel former President Donald Trump toward the summit of American leadership in November’s presidential race.
Emblazoned with recognition, Dr. Adelson, clad in the accolades of her recent Outstanding Achievement Award at the Israeli American Council’s celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary, readies her support for Preserve America. This super-PAC, a titan in the domain of political influence, which thundered through the 2020 elections, is recalibrating to become a formidable force in this year’s electoral showdown. It whispers through the corridors of power that Dr. Adelson, alongside her late husband Sheldon Adelson, bequeathed a staggering $90 million to Preserve America in the last presidential campaign, a staggering 85% of its war chest.
Sheldon Adelson, Las Vegas Sands’ visionary, expanded his empire to become the premier colossus of casino operation across the globe. His legacy endures despite his departure from this mortal coil in early 2021, a journey cut short by illness. As his widow, Dr. Miriam Adelson’s financial sword, whether sheathed or unsheathed in this political joust, remains a subject of speculation. Yet her recent re-entry into the political donation arena, albeit modest, signals an incipient storm of support that could very well carry Trump on the winds of fortune.
To recapture the White House, Trump’s campaign coffers must burgeon. With President Joe Biden’s treasure vault brimming at $84 million, Trump’s $49 million pales in comparison. The art of wooing the opulent donor class becomes a vital stratagem in this endeavor. Dr. Adelson’s favor, therefore, becomes pivotal to Trump’s aspirations, a keystone that could bridge the financial divide. Trump has adeptly courted magnates such as Stephen Schwarzman, who has publicly declared his continued allegiance, mirroring his past patronage.
Amidst this elite coterie of supporters, the gaming industry casts a long shadow over political patronage, The Blackstone Group, with tendrils deeply embedded in the Las Vegas Strip’s luminary landmarks, confirms this symbiosis between industry titans and partisan pursuits.
Dr. Adelson, reigning over 46% of the Sands equity, and sharing the helm of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, commands a net worth of $33.3 billion. Her alliance with Trump is a tapestry of mutual objectives, woven through shared visions for Israel and symbolized by the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem. In gratitude, Trump festooned Dr. Adelson with the presidential medal of freedom.
The narrative of political largesse is further enriched by the likes of Phil Ruffin, a fellow luminary of the gaming stratosphere, whose casinos dot the Vegas skyline. His allegiance to Trump is manifest in the millions funneled toward pro-Trump entities. Together, they fortify a bastion of support, combining the glitter of Vegas with the glare of the political spotlight, as the dice are cast for another electoral gamble.
In the political casino of America’s future, the house always wins, and in this cycle, Dr. Miriam Adelson could very well be the house.
