During a Republican primary debate last February, Donald Trump was booed during a back and forth with Jeb Bush about Trump’s attempt to use eminent domain to seize an elderly woman’s property in Atlantic City.
“That’s all of his donors and special interests out there,” Trump claimed. “We needed tickets. You can’t get them. You know who has the tickets …? Donors, special interests, the people that are putting up the money.”
Trump was clearly right that the richest donors get tickets to live debates that are completely unavailable to regular people: As Jake Tapper pointed out tonight, Trump has given four seats to the family of gambling mogul Sheldon Adelson, whose net worth of $31 billion makes him the 14th richest person in the U.S. Addison and his wife are spending at least $40 million trying to elect Republican candidates, including $5 million going to a Super PAC opposing Hillary Clinton.
The Adelsons have some prime real estate in Trump section — 4 seats, 3rd row#Debates2016 pic.twitter.com/VGYKeJwqET
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) September 26, 2016
Rudy Giuliani jokingly kissed Adelson’s ring before the debate:
Just now Rudy Giuliani kissed Adelsons ring. Literally. He appeared to be joking around, but it happened.
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) September 27, 2016