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By Josh Nathan-Kazis January 20, 2017

Jewish casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam Adelson, got to Donald Trump’s inauguration bright and early this morning to claim their seats, right at the center of the dais.

Their seats, right on the aisle, put them within arm’s reach of the country’s most powerful political dignitaries, and just a few rows behind Trump himself. Politicians, not donors, dominate this most prestigious part of the dais.

The Adelsons’ prominent seats are somewhat surprising, given their reticence to support Trump throughout the 2016 presidential campaign. Adelson made a massive last-minute cash infusion to the Trump campaign, after dithering for months.

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Trump hasn’t forgotten the slight: At a dinner just days ago, the president-elect “mocked Adelson.

Image by Getty Images

As Trump arrived onstage, Miriam Adelson could be seen over his shoulder, shooting a picture on her camera phone.

Cameras caught the Adelsons kibitzing with former House speaker Newt Gingrich, whose failed 2012 presidential campaign floated with a total of $20 million in donations.

Image by Getty Images

Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at nathankazis@forward.com

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