Donald Trump, 2024 Contenders to Speak at Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas

Posted on: September 13, 2023, 01:05h. 

Last updated on: September 13, 2023, 09:11h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
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Add former President Donald Trump to the star-studded roster of scheduled speakers at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Annual Leadership Summit set for Las Vegas at The Venetian Resort next month.

Donald Trump Republican Jewish Coalition Adelson
The late Sheldon Adelson attends the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Spring Leadership Summit in Las Vegas on March 29, 2014. Donald Trump has confirmed an appearance for the RJC’s 2023 Annual Leadership Summit next month. (Image: The Times of Israel)

The RJC works towards fostering and enhancing relationships between the Jewish community and Republican decision-makers in DC and across the country. Founded in 1985, the DC-based organization has long held its two annual summits in Southern Nevada at The Venetian.

The late Sheldon Adelson, who founded Las Vegas Sands and built The Venetian and Palazzo properties, was a longtime RJC board member. Adelson was also a Republican stalwart and one of the party’s richest donors.

Adelson and his wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, 77, donated more than $200 million to GOP candidates and Trump during the 2016 and 2020 election cycles. Adelson died in January 2021 at 87 from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

https://twitter.com/RJC/status/1701966246227361904

Candidates to Make Appeals

The 2023 RJC Annual Leadership Summit is set for Las Vegas Oct. 27-29. During the three days, several Republicans seeking the nation’s highest office will make their cases to the wealthy attendees as to why they should receive their political contributions.

Along with Trump, Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina’s US Sen. Tim Scott, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are all scheduled to appear at the RJC Leadership Summit.   

Trump remains the betting front-runner, with bettors on political wagering exchanges giving the former president a nearly 70% chance of winning the Republican ticket for a third consecutive presidential election. DeSantis is in a distant second, with his implied odds at just 13%. Ramaswamy is third at 11%, and Haley is fourth at 10%.

The RJC Leadership Summit will be a who’s who of the US Jewish community. But Dr. Adelson will presumably have the most attention of the 2024 candidates seeking to run against President Joe Biden next year.

Dr. Adelson inherited her husband’s stake in Sands, which accounts for nearly 57% of the casino empire today. Forbes puts her real-time estimated net worth at $32.8 billion — down considerably over the past six months by about 12%.

Will Adelson Back Trump?

Dr. Adelson has yet to make a federal campaign contribution this year, though she donated more than $27 million to Republican candidates and PACs in 2022. She gave $12.5 million each to the Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund and $1 million to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (Sands last year lobbied heavily in Texas for the state to legalize commercial casinos to no avail).

Dr. Adelson also gave $2,900 to Scott, the only 2024 GOP presidential candidate so far to receive money directly from the billionaire heiress.

Trump is close with Adelson, as he bestowed her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 for her philanthropic and humanitarian work. Trump also relocated the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem during his presidency, something the Adelsons sought for years.