Donald Trump attending the 2016 the New York State Republican Gala in New York City, April 14, 2016. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee announced a fund-raising team that includes five current or former Republican Jewish Coalition board members.
Of 20 members of the Victory Leadership Team announced Tuesday, five are or have been on the RJC board: Mel Sembler, a Florida developer and former RJC chairman who was the finance chairman of the presidential campaign this cycle of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Elliott Broidy, a venture capitalist who is influential among Hollywood conservatives; Sam Fox, a St. Louis businessman and past chairman of the RJC, whose son, Jeff Fox, backed the campaign of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Lewis Eisenberg, a New York investment manager, who will serve as Trump Victory’s finance chairman; and Ronald Weiser, an Ann Arbor businessman and philanthropist who was chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.
The team coordinates fundraising strategy between the party and Trump’s campaign.
Sembler, Fox and Weiser all served as ambassadors during the presidency of George W. Bush. Sembler’s former favored candidate, Jeb Bush, has refused to endorse Trump, now the presumptive GOP nominee. Trump peppered the former Florida governor with personal attacks throughout the primaries campaign.
Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino magnate, megadonor to Republican candidates, and pro-Israel philanthropist this month endorsed Trump and reportedly has pledged to spend more than $100 million to elect him. Adelson also is a major giver to the RJC.
A broad swathe of Republican Jews remain wary of Trump, a real estate magnate, in part because he has equivocated on support for Israel, but also because of his broadsides against women, Hispanics and Muslims.
Earlier Tuesday, the RJC condemned anti-Semitic attacks on journalists by supporters of candidates, prompted in part by Trump followers who have flooded with abuse and threats Jewish journalists critical of the candidate. Trump has said that he does not feel it necessary to condemn the attacks.
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