The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), backed by Las Vegas Sands billionaire Dr. Miriam Adelson, announced on Monday its plan to allocate $10 million across key 2024 battleground states—Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia, Michigan, and Arizona—to support former President Donald Trump’s bid for the White House. Founded in 1985 to build bridges between the Jewish community and Republican lawmakers, the RJC has grown into a major political force, largely due to the financial contributions of Sheldon Adelson. Adelson, who was instrumental in the development of The Venetian and Palazzo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and the transformation of Macau into a global gambling hub, passed away in January 2021. Concerns arose within the GOP about whether his widow, Dr. Miriam Adelson, would continue his political spending. However, the 78-year-old, with a net worth estimated at around $30 billion, has kept the legacy alive, particularly in efforts to strengthen the Israeli State. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has further motivated Adelson to continue funding initiatives to ensure Trump’s return to the Oval Office. Trump had previously awarded her the Medal of Freedom in 2018, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Speaking at the RJC Annual Leadership Summit held at The Venetian in Las Vegas last week, Adelson described Trump as the Jewish community’s “best friend.” With Adelson’s backing, the RJC aims to spend an unprecedented $15 million this election cycle, including $10 million directed toward battleground states, to counter Vice President Kamala Harris. The RJC argues that Trump is a steadfast ally of the Jewish community, while Harris has shown sympathy towards anti-Semitic rhetoric. The RJC’s first political ad for the 2024 election cycle was released on Monday, accusing Harris of aligning with the progressive “squad” in Washington, D.C.—Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan)—who the ad claims are anti-Israel and pro-Palestine. “Kamala Harris embraces and defends the squad even after Ilhan Omar made disgusting anti-Semitic comments,” a narrator asserts in the 30-second spot. “Harris joined the squad in sympathizing with anti-Semitic, anti-Israel protestors.” The ad will air in select markets during Tuesday night’s presidential debate between Harris and Trump. Though recent polls suggest Harris holds a slight lead, political betting markets favor Trump as the front-runner. The RJC emphasized the scale of their operation, calling it the most extensive effort yet to galvanize Jewish voters for Trump. Under the influence of the Adelsons, Trump relocated the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. For years, Sheldon Adelson lobbied for this move to acknowledge Jerusalem as Israel’s true capital. “I’m a one-issue person. That issue is Israel,” Adelson said in 2017, asserting that Palestine exists solely to “destroy Israel.” Interestingly, while Adelson and the RJC work to reelect Trump, her newest business partner, billionaire Mark Cuban, has been doing the opposite. Dr. Adelson acquired a controlling stake in the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks from Cuban last year. Cuban retained a 27% ownership interest and continues to oversee the team’s operations. Cuban, a vocal critic of Trump, has used his social media platforms to rally support for Harris. In a recent interview with CNBC, Cuban revealed that he communicates with the Harris campaign three to four times a week and has expressed a desire to serve in her administration, ideally leading the Securities and Exchange Commission.
