The Las Vegas Review-Journal, recently purchased by casino magnate and billionaire Sheldon Adelson, is the first major newspaper to endorse Donald Trump for president.
“History tells us that agents for reform often generate fear and alarm among those intent on preserving their cushy sinecures,” said the editorial. “It’s hardly a shock, then, that the 2016 campaign has produced a barrage of unceasing vitriol directed toward Mr. Trump. But let us not be distracted by the social media sideshows and carnival clatter.”
The endorsement hammers Hillary Clinton saying, “She’ll cuddle up to the ways and perks of Washington like she would to a cozy old blanket.”
The editorial, which appears to have been submitted by the conservative website Breitbart, claims Clinton will “censor” free speech by banning “movies and books,” and “individual right to bear arms would be a likely casualty of a Clinton presidency.”
Adelson is the world’s 18th-richest person and has given tens of millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes.
Over the weekend Clinton picked up the endorsement of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, The New Yorker, the Cedar Rapids Gazette, and the Las Vegas Sun. She had previously earned the endorsement from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times and USA Today.
Conservative newspaper editorial boards have also endorsed Clinton, including the Omaha World-Herald, Birmingham News, San Diego Union-Tribune, Arizona Republic, Dallas Morning News, Cincinnati Enquirer, Orlando Sentinel, Columbus Dispatch, Houston Chronicle and Salt Lake Tribune.