Published on: October 14, 2024, 04:16h.
Last updated on: October 14, 2024, 04:17h.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has officially endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 United States presidential election.
The RJ, Nevada’s most widely circulated newspaper with over 172K daily prints, backed Trump citing his experience as a former casino owner in Atlantic City and Indiana. The editorial board, including notable figures such as Publisher J. Keith Moyer and Executive Editor Glenn Cook, determined that Trump is better suited to lead the nation for the next four years.
The endorsement highlighted the differences between Trump’s previous term in office and Kamala Harris’ role as Vice President under President Joe Biden since January 2021. The RJ emphasized Harris’ recent statement where she expressed no regrets regarding her actions alongside Biden despite the administration facing challenges such as international chaos, increasing federal debt, and rising inflation.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal has been under the ownership of the Adelson family since their acquisition in 2015 for $140 million. Sheldon Adelson, known for founding the Las Vegas Sands empire, was a significant political donor to Trump until his passing in January 2021. His widow, Dr. Miriam Adelson, continues to support Trump’s presidency, pledging considerable financial resources for his campaign.
Forbes estimates the Adelson family fortune to be nearly $35 billion as of October 14.
Following the Adelsons’ ownership of the RJ, several long-time reporters left their positions due to concerns about potential political influence. The publication previously endorsed Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
The endorsement of Trump by the RJ aligns with Dr. Adelson’s belief that he is best positioned to support Israel amidst ongoing conflicts with Hamas and Palestine.
Despite the association with the Adelsons, the Review-Journal has endorsed candidates from various parties in previous elections, including Republicans like Mitt Romney, John McCain, and George W. Bush.
Significance of Endorsements
In today’s fast-paced news environment, newspaper endorsements hold less sway compared to previous eras where they were essential sources of information. Nonetheless, they continue to play a role in shaping public opinion, with the media landscape now more diverse and fragmented.
Amidst the ongoing 2024 presidential election, most major media outlets have thrown their support behind the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris. However, the RJ‘s endorsement of Trump adds to the smaller list of media entities backing the Republican candidate.