Miriam Adelson long operated in the shadow of her powerful husband, Sheldon Adelson. Now, after his death, she is playing in politics as a solo practitioner for the first time.
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Miriam Adelson, whom Donald J. Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, is poised to become one of the biggest donors in the presidential election.
As the Nevada caucuses drew to a close in February, Donald J. Trump and several top aides gathered for a quick dinner in a suite atop his hotel in Las Vegas before he descended and declared victory.
But the Republican billionaire at the center of attention during the meal was not Mr. Trump — it was Dr. Miriam Adelson.
The former president, by then on a glide path to the Republican nomination, wanted financial support from Dr. Adelson, a conservative megadonor, and she had a request or two. Be less bombastic, she told him, and speak more directly about the economy. But more important, she made clear to Mr. Trump and his top aides, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, be patient.
She would not donate to him while Nikki Haley, his last rival standing and a friend of hers, remained in the race, according to two people briefed on the meeting who insisted on anonymity to describe a private gathering.
But once the primary was over? She gave Mr. Trump a renewed assurance that the famous Adelson geyser of cash — which had shot out hundreds of millions of dollars over more than a decade — would erupt again.
It would have been uncouth that evening on the Strip to put dollars and cents on it, but Dr. Adelson is now fulfilling her promise, making moves to spend more than $90 million to help Mr. Trump’s third White House bid.
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