Trump to skip major GOP Jewish gathering

politico.com

Donald Trump will not be attending this week’s gathering of the influential Republican Jewish Coalition, according to a source close to the organization.

Trump’s campaign informed the RJC on Monday of the decision. A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The RJC is holding its annual spring conference at the posh Venetian hotel and resort in Las Vegas. The hotel is owned by Sheldon Adelson, a casino mogul who is one of the RJC’s primary funders and board members.

A number of influential political players will be attending the conference, including Ted Cruz, who will be speaking on Saturday afternoon, Gov. Scott Walker, and Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who is up for reelection. However, John Kasich will also not be attending the event.

The RJC’s board includes many of the party’s most powerful donors, including Adelson, hedge fund manager Paul Singer, and real estate executive Mel Sembler. Lew Eisenberg, the Republican National Committee’s finance director, also sits on the board.

While some RJC members — including Adelson — have signaled their openness to Trump, others have not. Singer, for example, has been a primary funder of Our Principles PAC, a super PAC that is devoted to taking down the New York businessman. Many Jewish Republicans are unhappy with Trump because he has suggested that he will be neutral in the Israel-Palestine conflict.