As Madeleine Albright famously said, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” While we brace for the return to power of a tyrannical, insurrection-inciting, convicted felon, let’s take a look at the 21st century mercenary MAGA women who helped make it possible. Fueled by an unfathomable avalanche of cash, these five female billionaires stand out among a cadre of mostly male billionaire backers who ushered Donald Trump, the worst president in history, back into the White House.
This is the stuff nightmares are made of – Miriam Adelson, Linda McMahon, Diane Hendricks, Liz Uihlein, and Kelly Loeffler used their vast wealth, not to uplift women or defend democracy, but to elect a maniac who brags about grabbing women by the pussy and setting women’s rights back half-a-century and openly aspires to be a dictator. They poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Trump and MAGA, supporting a pathological liar who fuels bigotry and homophobia with his deranged rhetoric, paving the way for a hate-driven, authoritarian future for American women, our families and in particular – our daughters.
Miriam Adelson (age 79): What a depraved journey, from the granddaughter of holocaust victims to the benefactor of a despotquoted as saying he wants “the kind of Generals Hitler had.” Her billions come from her late husband Sheldon Adelson’s casino fortune. As a physician who served in the Israeli army, she is a woman who should understand, better than most, the dangers of terrorism and tyranny. And yet, she chose to pump over $100 million into Trump’s campaign. Miriam worships a villain who stokes division, marginalizes communities and embraces conspiracy theories in a manner chillingly reminiscent of Adolf. Instead of upholding her family’s legacy by standing against authoritarianism, she’s bankrolling it. Instead of honoring her vows to save lives as a doctor, she supports putting women’s health in danger.
Linda McMahon (age 76): A Trump crony who headed the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first termand his pick to head the Department of Education in his second term and charged with abolishing the department, Linda supports tolerance of sexual violence against women, unchecked power and disdain for accountability. She is a WWE founder with her husband, Vince McMahon, who has been accused by four women of being a sexual predator and rapist, has paid out $12 million in hush money and stands as an emblem of the toxic values the incoming administration will protect. Along with her husband, Linda is one of Trump’s biggest donors. Like so many MAGA criminals who have been and will be given a Get Out of Jail Free card, the McMahon millions will likely buy a pardon for Vince, whose alleged sexual misconduct rivals that of the president elect and Harvey Weinstein.
Diane Hendricks (age 77): This self-made billionaire made her fortune with her late husband Ken in a roofing supplies business ABC Roofing. She could have used her money, power and influence to champion women’s rights and economic opportunity for all. Instead, Diane, one of Trump’s most loyal donors, actively works to erase women’s rights and demonize anyone who challenges Trump’s dominance. For Diane, who built her wealth on the American Dream, her support of Trump showcases a bitter irony: she climbed to the top, then pulled the ladder up behind her, leaving future generations of women to face the innumerable challenges posed by the anti-women policies MAGA has champions.
Liz Uihlein (age 79): Liz’s support for Trump’s campaign is no surprise. Coming from a long line of civil rights opponents and segregation advocates, her family values are firmly rooted in maintaining supremacy for themselves. The Uihleins, with German heritage, seem to find the Aryan appeal of the MAGA white nationalist platform irresistible. An opponent of choice and ‘transgender ideology,’ Liz has a reputation for running her company, Uline, a packaging materials business, with an iron fist and has been criticized for harsh treatment of employees and an obsession with controlling her workforce.
Kelly Loeffler (age 54): This childless cat-lady’s record speaks for itself. She has fanned the flames of the Big Lie and embraces far right extremism. After marrying her billionaire boss, Jeffrey Sprecher and buying her way into a Senate seat, she aligned herself with the most radical fringe of the Republican Party, including one of its most deranged and dangerous members – Marjorie Taylor Greene. Kelly’s voting record and rhetoric feature unrelenting attacks on reproductive rights and fierce opposition to social justice. She flaunts her MAGA mania at every opportunity and is a fierce advocate for those seeking to dismantle the rights and protections that previous generations of women fought to secure.
More Trump Horrors Ahead
Foreshadowing his intent to use the presidency to begin an assault on women, in 2005 Trump bragged in an Access Hollywood taped conversation that he can “grab ‘em by the pussy.” He has been true to his word, stacking the court with justices willing to override nearly 50 years of legal precedent to overturn Roe v. Wade, undermining protections against workplace harassment and scrapping efforts to ensure equal pay. Trump’s first presidency was a relentless assault on women’s hard-won freedoms and his agenda for the coming term indicates his intent to accelerate the onslaught: restrict access to contraception, institute a national abortion ban, discontinue sex ed, cut healthcare and family planning programs. The results will be devastating to women’s physical and mental health, autonomy and economic stability.
The Wrong Side of Everything That Matters
When women in positions of extraordinary power choose to use their gluttonous riches and outsized influence to support those who actively harm women’s rights, it is especially infuriating and devastating. If there is a “special place” for women who do not help other women, there is an extra special spot in hell reserved for those who have the power to make a positive difference but choose instead to stand on the wrong side of justice, fairness, decency and history. The wealth and influence these women wield could be a force for protection, equality, and progress for women. Instead, they are devoted to reversing the very rights that have allowed them to prosper.
Kimberly Rhodes is a former business and technology attorney now working in education. She is also the co-founder of a nonprofit supporting women’s health.
The views and opinions expressed in this article and published by The Righting are those of the author and do not represent the positions, policies, or perspectives of any organizations with which the author is affiliated. Statements about public figures are based on publicly available information.
