During President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony yesterday, a select few gathered in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, with new Dallas Mavericks majority owner and billionaire GOP donor Miriam Adelson securing a prime viewing spot. Adelson, who contributed $100 million to Trump's campaign, was seated prominently among past U.S. presidents and noteworthy business leaders. According to WFAA, she was situated behind former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, sharing space with none other than UFC CEO Dana White.
Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the inaugural event, which usually unfolds before a vast ocean of supporters on the National Mall, was scaled down to a modest assembly of around 600 individuals. Mostly composed of political figures, family members, and several business moguls, the event's exclusivity was heightened, having been forced inside by the inclement weather. Among these privileged few, tech giants like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, found themselves sharing the limited space. Dallas News reported that thousands watched a broadcast at Capital One Arena, unable to witness the moment firsthand.
Miriam Adelson's presence at the inauguration marked her first foray into high-level political patronage following the death of her husband, Sheldon Adelson, in 2021. As reported by Dallas News, the 2024 reelection campaign for Trump was where Adelson stepped into the role of a highly influential political donor solo. She and Sheldon have been known to be prolific contributors to the GOP, with donations amounting to $180 million in the 2020 political cycle.
Additionally, Adelson's Las Vegas Sands casino empire, a juggernaut in the gaming industry and worth a reported $25 billion, seeks to expand its dominion into Dallas, keying in on Texas as a new market for their business ventures. According to information from WFAA, this move comes after the NBA Board of Governors greenlit the sale of the Mavericks from Mark Cuban to Adelson in December of 2023.
