'Angry' Trump accused of flooding billionaire megadonor Miriam Adelson's phone with furious text messages
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: A new report has claimed that former President Donald Trump instructed one of his closest aides to send a series of harsh and abusive text messages to billionaire Republican donor Miriam Adelson.
The messages accused Adelson of employing Trump’s political rivals within the Republican Party, specifically individuals he labeled as “RINOs,” or Republicans In Name Only. The incident shed light on purported tensions between Trump and some of his most influential supporters within the GOP.
Donald Trump targets Miriam Adelson’s PAC
The dispute between Donald Trump and Miriam Adelson revolves around her financial support for the “Preserve America” Political Action Committee (PAC), which she reactivated after Nikki Haley exited the presidential race.
The New York Times reported that Trump was incensed by claims that the PAC, which is expected to spend up to $100 million in the lead-up to the 2024 election, was being managed by Republicans he views as disloyal.
Trump’s anger was rooted in the belief that Miriam's late husband, Sheldon Adelson, a major Republican and Trump donor, would never have allowed such individuals to be involved in his operations.
Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire casino magnate, had been a close ally of Trump for many years. Trump had even awarded Miriam Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018.
Despite this history, Trump’s frustration with the current management of the PAC led him to direct his aide, Natalie Harp, to bombard Miriam Adelson with hostile messages.
Harp, reportedly referred to as “the human printer” for her role in providing Trump with reams of printed material during his criminal trial, was tasked with delivering Trump’s grievances.
Tensions rise Between Donald Trump and Preserve America PAC
The Preserve America PAC plays a considerable role in the Republican Party’s efforts to regain the presidency. With Miriam Adelson at the helm, the PAC has already begun spending large sums on pro-Trump advertisements in key swing states.
The PAC’s influence is further highlighted by the fact that it is managed by Dave Carney, a seasoned GOP operative with experience working for prominent Republican figures such as Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The relationship between Trump and the PAC reportedly became strained following a meeting between Trump and Adelson at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
This comes despite what was described as a “friendly” encounter and the PAC going on a pro-Trump media blitz, spending $18 million on television ads. One of these ads targeted Kamala Harris, claiming that her policies had “overwhelmed hospitals” with “illegal immigrants.”
However, those close to Trump are concerned that since the RNC, President Joe Biden's decision to step down and let Kamala Harris lead the Democratic ticket has made Trump so "angry" that he may be easily manipulated by those around him.
Role of Ike Perlmutter in the dispute
The New York Times report also revealed the involvement of Ike Perlmutter, the former head of Marvel Entertainment and a longtime friend of Donald Trump.
Perlmutter, who is also a member of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, allegedly played a role in encouraging the hostile texts to Miriam Adelson.
The report suggests that Perlmutter wanted Adelson to contribute to a different super PAC, which may have fueled Trump’s anger.
Perlmutter’s influence over Trump is not new; he has been involved in previous attempts to sway Trump’s decisions, including a failed bid by another Trump associate, Nelson Peltz, to remove Bob Iger as CEO of Disney.
Despite Perlmutter’s apparent involvement, neither his attorney nor Adelson’s spokesperson responded to requests for comment from The New York Times.
The alleged rift with Miriam Adelson comes at a time when Trump appears increasingly vulnerable, both publicly and privately. The New York Times report mentions that Trump has been privately referring to Kamala Harris with derogatory language, calling her a “b***h.”
However, his spokesperson, Steven Cheung, denied that Trump used such language.
In public, Trump has lashed out at his critics, particularly Democrats, who have labeled him “weird.”
He has also made exaggerated claims about the size of his crowds compared to those of Kamala Harris and even compared the size of his January 6, 2021, rally to the audience at Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech.
Miriam Adelson’s growing influence
Miriam Adelson’s influence within the Republican Party extends beyond her financial contributions. As the widow of Sheldon Adelson, she has taken control of his business ventures and political operations, positioning herself as a key player in GOP politics.
Her dual citizenship in Israel and the United States has also led her to support pro-Israel causes, further aligning her with Trump, who made the controversial decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
In June, it seemed that Adelson had reopened the “cash spigot” for Trump, signaling a potential continuation of their alliance. However, the recent tensions suggest that their relationship is more complicated than it appears.
Adelson’s decision to purchase the ambassador’s residence outside Tel Aviv was seen as a move to make it more difficult for a future administration to reverse Trump’s embassy decision, although the Biden administration has not pursued such a reversal, the Daily Beast reported.
