Sheldon Adelson, CEO, Las Vegas Sands; Owner, Israeli daily newspaper Hayom
“All the politicians money can buy” is a cynical comment on the American political system that often comes uncomfortably (or comfortably, depending on one’s point of view) close to the truth. Casino billionaire and philanthropist Sheldon Adelson was the largest single donor to the Trump campaign.
When he led the charge for U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state, Trump obliged. Adelson, with others, was also behind the White House decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from its present location in Tel Aviv. Those others – American Jewish groups and Evangelical Christians – had been pushing for recognition of Jerusalem and the embassy move for decades without success. With Trump, the price was clearly right. Adelson has also pressed Trump to kill the Iran nuclear deal.
He has open access to the president, and he is also close to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s embattled prime minister.
Hayom, Adelson’s newspaper, is regarded by many in the Jewish state as Netanyahu’s mouthpiece.
