Presidential Medal of Freedom goes to Miriam Adelson, doctor and wife of billionaire casino operator Sheldon Adelson

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Donald Trump has announced his first recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honor. As well as posthumous recognition for Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth, the list includes the wife of a major Republican donor and the longest-serving Republican senator in US history.

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Trump will also posthumously recognize the late supreme court justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative forerunner of Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. The Utah senator Orrin Hatch, who is retiring after more than 41 years in Congress, also receives a medal.

Miriam Adelson, 72, is a doctor who is married to the casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. In a citation released by the White House, she was lauded for her medical work, her research and her work in combating substance abuse.

Sheldon Adelson, 85 and according to Forbes the 14th-richest person in America in 2017, gave Trump’s campaign $82m during the 2016 election.

He has since been a major driver of Trump administration Middle-Eastern policy, including the switch of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem earlier this year, the abandonment of the Iran deal and the installation of the hawkish John Bolton as Trump’s third national security adviser.

His wife’s citation added: “As a committed member of the American Jewish community, she has supported Jewish schools, Holocaust memorial organizations, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and Birthright Israel, among other causes.”

Two former NFL players are also recognised: former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and Alan Page, who began a legal career after leaving the NFL.