TOPLINE
A phone call between GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson and President Trump went rancorous last week after Trump launched his reelection campaign, and Adelson asked why he did nothing more to keep him in the White House, Politico reported, causing Republican officials to worry about whether Adelson would keep the taps flowing.
President Donald Trump takes the stage with Sheldon Adelson (L) during the Israeli-American Council … [+]
KEY FACTS
Last week, Adelson – who Forbes estimates is worth more than $ 29 billion – called on Trump to discuss the coronavirus’ relief and economy.
During the call, Trump turned to his reelection and confronted Adelson, who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to pro-Trump and GOP efforts, over the reason he did nothing more to help the campaign, according to Politico’s report that it said relying on three unnamed sources familiar with the call.
Once the word of the call spread, GOP officials feared that Trump would remove one of his biggest donors while the campaign struggled to contain a flood of Democratic super PAC fundraising.
According to Politico, officials who tried to smooth things over with Adelson may have been too late, and Adelson’s cohorts said it was unclear if the billionaire would continue to donate.
Outside of funding groups supporting Joe Biden, they have raised almost three times the amount of money against those who support Trump, Republicans leave desperately for help from the billionaire class.
For the first time since March, Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee were able to outreach the Biden campaign, according to the Washington Post.
Key background
Adelson is one of Trump’s, and the Republican Party’s largest donors. In July, Adelson and his wife Miriam donated $ 25 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC that supports top Senate Republicans like Kentucky Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Iowa’s Joni Ernst. Since 2016, the Las Vegas couple has given the super PAC over $ 100 million. In 2018, the Adelson donated more than $ 123 million to Republican campaigns and commissions for political action.
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Trump antagonizes GOP megadonor Adelson on hot phone (Politico)
Sheldon Adelson Gives $ 25 Million to GOP First Chamber Super-PAC (Forbes)
Fundraising for Trump campaign in July outpaced Biden, reverse trend of previous two months (Washington Post)
