“It’s almost like a Democratic Party summit.”
Last month, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ wedding was a grand affair that rocked Venice.
Similarly, in June, a significant wedding quietly took place in New York.
The bride, Humaid Abdeen, is the personal assistant to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; the groom, Alex Soros, is the son of renowned investor George Soros and has just inherited a $25 billion foundation from his father.
· Abdeen (left) with Alex.
The wedding was held at Soros’ family’s private estate on Long Island, New York, which is very private.
The dress was simple with a shoulder-baring design, decorated only with hand-stitched olive branch embroidery at the hem, incorporating the initials of the couple’s names.
The Soros couple did not accept gifts for the wedding but invited guests to donate their tithe to a foundation supporting girls’ education.
The guest list was an “all-star lineup” for the Democratic Party: former President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary, former President Obama and wife Michelle, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Harris… all attended.
Media commented that the wedding was “almost like a Democratic Party summit.”
· Bill Clinton (second from right) and Hillary (first from right) attend the wedding.
Hillary’s “second daughter”
The connection between Abdeen and Alex began in 2023 when Alex fell in love with Abdeen at a private gathering and aggressively pursued her afterward.
After Abdeen agreed to date him, they participated in many fashion events together and announced their relationship on social media. During a trip to Italy, Alex officially proposed to Abdeen.
The bride, Abdeen, comes from an immigrant family, with her father from India and mother from Pakistan, both university professors specializing in Muslim culture.
At the age of 20, Abedin was about to graduate from Washington University and applied for a White House internship, hoping to join the news department but unexpectedly ended up in Hillary Clinton’s staff.
In 2000, during Hillary Clinton’s campaign for US Senator, Abedin became her most effective campaign advisor, subsequently appointed as an assistant and personal consultant.
In their work together, they were almost inseparable. American Vogue magazine commented that their time together far exceeded Hillary Clinton’s time with Bill Clinton.
As Hillary Clinton’s closest subordinate, Abedin knew her habits by heart. For instance, she was aware that Hillary Clinton carried pepper powder, netted bags, cosmetics, and private photos in her handbag; when Hillary Clinton chatted with people at public events, Abedin would whisper reminders to her, informing her of the other person’s identity.
· Abedin (left) with Hillary Clinton.
With Hillary Clinton participating in multiple campaigns, Abedin gradually ascended, successively holding senior positions such as deputy director of the office and team chief.
Hillary Clinton wrote in her memoirs: “I have only one daughter Chelsea, but if there were another, it would be Abedin.”
Abedin entered the White House job that year, while Bill Clinton was deeply involved in the “Lewinsky incident,” making Hillary Clinton a focal point of public opinion. Coincidentally, Abedin’s first marriage also led her through a similar experience.
In 2010, Abedin married then-US Congressman Anthony Weiner.
At that time, Abedin was very optimistic about this relationship: “When I was with him, I felt that all bad things could never happen to me.”
· Bill Clinton (center) as the officiating minister, presiding over Abedin and Weiner’s wedding ceremony.
Initially, Weiner falsely claimed that his account had been hacked, but faced evidence, he had no choice but to admit his actions at a press conference and subsequently resigned from his position as a congressman.
To help his husband regain his reputation, Abdeen joined him on the show and expressed that her husband was making efforts to improve their marriage.
However, Weiner soon found himself embroiled in scandals again.
In 2013, he made a high-profile comeback for the Mayor of New York City, only to be exposed for sending indecent photos under a false name, ultimately suffering a crushing defeat in the mayoral election.
In 2016, Weiner once again ran for Senator, and media exposure revealed that he had sent inappropriate messages to a minor girl multiple times. This “failure” not only ended his political career completely but also impacted Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign efforts.
· Abdeen (right) with Weiner.
The incident came to light, leading the Federal Bureau of Investigation (hereafter referred to as FBI) to intervene in the investigation. When investigators went to Weiner’s home to collect evidence, they seized Abdeen’s server and Weiner’s computer.
The FBI claimed that during the search of the computers, new emails related to Hillary’s “emailgate” were discovered, thus announcing the resumption of the investigation into “emailgate.” This occurred just 11 days before the U.S. presidential election.
Media analysis later suggested that this unexpected incident completely disrupted Hillary’s campaign plans, indirectly leading to her loss in the election.
In 2017, Abdeen announced her divorce from Weiner, after which Weiner gradually faded out of the Democratic Party political scene.
“More Political Than His Father”
Compared to bride Abdeen, Alex grew up in a family entirely different from hers.
Born in 1985, Alex was already making a name for himself in the financial world by then. In the following years, he accumulated vast wealth through short selling currencies in multiple countries.
Raised in a privileged environment, Alex seemed somewhat dismissive of life in his early years. He was active in the circles of New York’s elite and arts, often appearing in media reports due to his high-profile social activities.
At that time, he had several brief relationships but none developed into stable ones, hence he was labeled as a “playboy”.
In terms of inheritance, being the fourth child of the late Soros, Alex was not initially favored by his father. His half-brother Jonathan, who was once seen as the preferred successor by the old Soros, was considered more rational than his impulsive and radical father. There were many disagreements between them on many issues.
By 2011, the conflict between father and son reached its peak, and Jonathan eventually left the family company. Thus, the responsibility of inheriting the family business fell on Alex’s shoulders.
To fulfill the role of an heir, Alex changed his previous flamboyant style, not only in his dress but also in building his social image.
In 2012, a report by The New York Times mentioned that after struggling with money and growing up, Alex was stepping onto the stage in his own way.
He initiated a foundation to invest millions of dollars in environmental protection and education, hoping to rebrand himself from a “playboy” to a “philanthropist”.
Meanwhile, Alex began to frequently appear at political events. According to Fox News, since 2021, Alex has visited the White House at least 17 times.
· Alex (right) with Obama.
Alex candidly stated: “Given my background, I have many ways to go wrong. But instead, I became a workaholic, my life is my work.”
Ultimately, his efforts won the trust of his father. In 2023, the old Soros announced that he would hand over the $25 billion Open Society Foundation to Alex.
· Alex and Abeidin’s wedding, in 2024, was a significant event in the political landscape of the United States. The “Open Society Foundation” had been Alex’s largest donor, contributing $15.2 million to his campaign. Following Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 election, the Soros family immediately supported Harris. Alex announced this on social media: “We are now united around Harris; she is the most outstanding and qualified candidate for this position.”
Alex has expressed that he shares his father’s passion for philosophy and politics. However, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he candidly stated, “I am more political than my father.”
The wedding between Abedin and Alex has sparked various interpretations among the public.
The New York Times described it as a “wedding of liberal nobility.” A Democratic member pointed out that Abedin has always longed to become a “Royal Member” of America.
A commentator who has long followed American politics told Global Personnel: “The Democratic Party is a diverse coalition, and this wedding reflects the integration of specific circles.”
This echoes the observation by American sociologist C. Wright Mills in his book “The Power Elite”: “Power elites are not isolated rulers… They are interdependent, understanding each other, marrying, and working and thinking in similar ways.”
· Alex (left) and Abedin.
Abedin’s political career and the financial strength of the Soros family are noteworthy elements in this marriage.
It is worth noting that another wedding featured Bezos and Sanchez, who were also invited to Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
This highlights the extensive connections between money and politics, offering a perspective on the American political ecosystem.