President Donald Trump recognized Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson for her support in the ongoing relations between the United States and Israel.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks — or at least their owner — found themselves at the center of major international news Monday morning.
President Donald Trump recognized Miriam Adelson for her support in the ongoing relations between the United States and Israel as he addressed Israeli lawmakers over the U.S.-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas.
Trump said he “kept my promise” on working toward peace in the Middle East, then pointed at Adelson in the crowd.
“Isn’t that right, Miriam?” Trump said in his address to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Trump praised Adelson and her late husband, Sheldon, for their support of him and Israel.
“They were responsible for so much,” Trump said of the Adelsons and their involvement in Israel. “Miriam, stand up please. She loves this country. She loves this country … But I actually asked her, what do you love more, the United States or Israel? She refused to answer. That might mean Israel. We love you. Thank you, darling, for being here. She is a great woman.”
Miriam Adelson, whose family purchased the Mavericks from Mark Cuban in 2023, donated at least $100 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Trump noted in his address Monday that Adelson has “$60 billion in the bank.”
Adelson — an Israeli, a passionate Zionist and the fifth-richest woman in the world — dined with Trump a half dozen times over 2023 and 2024, with much discussion centering around Israel and one another’s families, according to a New York Times report from June 2024.
Trump’s recognition of Adelson was about an hour into his lengthy address to the Knesset.
Trump has told Israeli lawmakers their country has no more to achieve on the battlefield and must work toward peace in the Middle East after two years of war against Hamas and skirmishes with Hezbollah and Iran. Trump also said Palestinians should focus on “building their people up” instead of attacking Israel.
Trump was also planning to attend a summit in Egypt with more than two dozen nations. The U.S.-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, but Trump is optimistic about reshaping regional relations. Trump urged the Israeli president to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.