Miriam Adelson, one of the most influential figures in American and Israeli politics, was front and center at the Knesset as Donald Trump celebrated the Gaza ceasefire deal.
During his address, the U.S. president praised Adelson as a steadfast friend of Israel, recognizing her as one of his administration’s most dedicated supporters.
Trump playfully told the chamber that Adelson has “$60 billion in her account” and “loves Israel,” adding, “I asked her once what she loves more – the United States or Israel. She refused to answer, which might be a problem.” The remark drew laughter from the audience as the 79-year-old philanthropist smiled from the gallery, receiving a standing ovation.
Adelson, a Las Vegas-based billionaire, has long been regarded as a kingmaker within Republican and pro-Israel circles. She was one of the largest donors to Trump’s 2024 campaign, channeling $106 million into Preserve America, the super PAC that helped secure his re-election. Trump noted that Adelson had made “more trips to the White House than anybody else,” underscoring her close ties to his administration.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1945 to Polish immigrant parents, Miriam Adelson initially pursued a career in medicine. She trained as a physician specializing in addiction treatment before meeting Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate and one of the world’s wealthiest businessmen. The two married in 1991, combining their fortunes and influence to shape U.S. conservative and Middle Eastern policy for decades.
After Sheldon’s death in 2021, Miriam became the majority shareholder of the Las Vegas Sands corporation, overseeing lucrative operations in Macao and Singapore. The family sold their iconic Las Vegas Strip resorts – including The Venetian – for $6.25 billion in 2022. A year later, she purchased a majority stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
Adelson’s influence in Republican politics extends beyond campaign financing. She played a significant role in shaping Trump’s Israel policy, reportedly urging him to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Her unwavering support earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.
The Adelsons’ financial and political support for Trump and the GOP has been estimated at more than $600 million since 2015. Trump himself acknowledged their impact during his speech, saying, “Miriam and Sheldon were among the greatest friends of America and Israel that I have ever known.”
In recent years, Miriam Adelson has become increasingly vocal about her views on Israel and its critics. Following the October 7 attacks, she wrote an op-ed in Israel Hayom, the newspaper she owns, denouncing what she described as “foreign fans of Hamas” and calling for a hardline stance against Israel’s detractors. “They should be dead to us,” she wrote, in a blunt message that echoed her uncompromising Zionism.
At a campaign event in September, Adelson told Jewish voters it was their “sacred duty” to support Trump, citing his role in strengthening U.S.-Israel relations. Her comments came amid growing campus protests in the U.S., which she dismissed in Forbes Israel as “ghastly gatherings of radical activists and agitators.”
As Trump eyes another term in the White House, Miriam Adelson remains one of his most powerful allies – both politically and financially. Her influence extends from Washington to Jerusalem, making her one of the defining figures in the ongoing alliance between the United States and Israel.
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