The first night of the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Leadership Summit in Las Vegas underscored top GOP leaders’ support for Israel as they seek to boost former President Donald Trump’s chances in the upcoming presidential election.
The Sept. 4 dinner also showcased the lasting legacy of the late Sheldon Adelson, the major pro-Israel Republican donor who created the Venetian Las Vegas. The resort complex hosted the gathering.
Republican Jewish Coalition Chair Norm Coleman, a former senator from Minnesota, described the surroundings as “the house that Sheldon built.”
Adelson’s wife, Miriam Adelson, will speak on Sept. 5, the same day Trump makes a virtual appearance.
Leading Republicans who spoke included Michael Whatley, who chairs the Republican National Committee; Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is running for Senate leader; Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus; and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Whatley and Scott recounted trips to Israel.
Like other Republicans who spoke, Scott, who is facing a challenge from Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, expressed his strong support for the Jewish community and the state of Israel.
“Let me know what I can do to be helpful,” Scott told the crowd just before departing the stage.
Ernst spoke about the death of American Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who had been a hostage of Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
His parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention days before Goldberg-Polin’s body was recovered alongside those of five other dead hostages in a tunnel beneath Rafah.
“Hersh should still be alive today,” the Iowa lawmaker said, before describing a recent sit-down with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
A set but empty table at the gathering commemorated victims.
Ernst offered up a pro-Israel variation on the “America First” slogan popularized by Trump.
“I believe in America first, always, but never America alone,” she said.
Doug Kustoff (R-Tenn.), one of just two Jewish Republicans in the House, criticized the United States’ highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), for his call for a new election for the slot currently occupied by Netanyahu.
“We don’t do that to our enemies, much less to our allies. That is shameful,” Kustoff said.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) followed up on his comments on X regarding a Turkish crowd’s attack on U.S. Marines—an incident reportedly triggered by U.S. support for Israel.
Both Turkey and Greece are NATO allies of the United States. Scott has previously suggested Turkey’s NATO membership should be rethought.
At the Venetian, he told The Epoch Times that Turkey was falling short as a NATO member.
“That’s a decision for every member of NATO,” he said of any proposals to expel Turkey from the organization.
