The former President Donald Trump is the latest addition to the impressive list of speakers scheduled to grace the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Annual Leadership Summit. The event is slated to take place at The Venician Resort in Las Vegas next month.
Serving a key role in fortifying the ties between the Jewish community and Republican policy-makers in Washington DC and across America, the long-standing Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) has been consistent in hosting its biannual leadership summits since its inception in 1985. These events have often found a home in the Venetian, a signature property in Southern Nevada.
This venue carries a poignant significance to the RJC as it was founded by the late Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas Sands founder, who went on to build The Venetian and Palazzo properties. Adelson, a steadfast Republican and a prodigiously wealthy donor to the party, was an integral part of the RJC board for many years. Over the course of the 2016 and 2020 electoral cycles, his wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, joined him in contributing over $200 million to GOP nominees, among whom was Trump. Sheldon Adelson passed away at 87 in 2021, succumbing to complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The upcoming 2023 RJC Annual Leadership Summit, scheduled from October 27 to 29, will see a host of Republicans ascending the stage to assert their credentials to the wealthy audience, in a bid to secure their potential political donations. Esteemed attendees, along with Trump, include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, US Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Despite the strong lineup of speakers and potential candidates, Trump is currently leading the odds on political betting exchanges, with a nearly 70% chance of securing the Republican ticket for a third-time presidential run. DeSantis trails behind with a 13% chance, followed by Ramaswamy and Haley with 11% and 10% respectively.
The summit, a gathering of luminaries from the Jewish community, is expected to revolve heavily around Dr. Adelson. Presumably, the 2024 presidential hopefuls will be vying for her attention, given her potential role in the upcoming race against President Joe Biden.
Inheriting her husband’s stake in Sands, Dr. Adelson now controls almost 57% of the casino empire. Her networth, as estimated by Forbes, stands at $32.8 billion, despite a 12% decrease in the last six months.
While Dr. Adelson has withheld any federal campaign donations this year, she generously contributed over $27 million to Republican candidates and PACs in 2022. Direct donations included $12.5 million each to the Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund, along with $1 million extended to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Senator Tim Scott remains the only declared 2024 Republican presidential contender to have received a direct contribution from the billionaire.
Trump and Adelson share a close rapport, evidenced when Trump honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, recognizing her philanthropic work. It’s also worth noting that Trump authorized the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem during his tenure, an objective pursued by the Adelsons over the years.