The Democratic establishment descended on the Hamptons this weekend for something of a political royal wedding that brought together the worlds of big-money politics and Clinton-era insiders.
The newlyweds were Alex Soros, the son of George Soros, the Democratic Party’s most generous patron, and Huma Abedin, a political aide who has been described as almost a daughter to Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and secretary of state. Held on Saturday at a Soros family estate in Water Mill, N.Y., the wedding drew private jets and Clinton aides galore in a rare concentration of wealth and power.
Beyond the couple’s families, the guest list included Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton; former Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff; Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader; former Speaker Nancy Pelosi; celebrities like Nicky Hilton Rothschild; cultural figures like the Vogue editor Anna Wintour; longtime Clinton friends like the San Francisco power broker Susie Tompkins Buell; and foreign dignitaries like the prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama.
The starry lineup was described by four people who were at the wedding as well as several representatives for the attendees. Representatives for the couple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The vocal group Boyz II Men performed at the wedding, according to two of the attendees, and speakers giving toasts included Mr. Soros’s brother Jonathan, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Wintour and Mr. Rama. Dishes included truffle agnolotti, chilled English pea soup and an American wagyu bavette and grilled prawns.
The festivities happened to coincide with an exceptionally chaotic weekend at home and abroad. Protesters gathered across the country to oppose President Trump even as he held an unusual military parade in Washington; a Minnesota lawmaker was assassinated in a new outburst of political violence; and attacks between Israel and Iran stoked fears of a wider Mideast conflagration.
All was much calmer in the Hamptons, as convoys of black S.U.V.s ferried wedding attendees down a narrow wooded lane and through a gate flanked by purple flowers.
Mr. Soros is one of the donor world’s most intriguing figures. The holder of a doctoral degree in history, he has largely taken over the giving handled for decades by his father, now 94, who has supported liberal causes around the world and become a right-wing boogeyman. The younger Mr. Soros has called himself “more political” than his father.
Mr. Soros, 39, has also revealed himself to be comfortable in the spotlight, and has posted vigorously on social media as he has detailed his encounters with Democratic leaders. He is likely to be a major part of the liberal philanthropy scene for decades, and many in progressive circles want to stay close to him.
His romance with Ms. Abedin, 49, has captivated parts of high society. That is in part because her last marriage deteriorated in spectacular fashion: Her previous husband, former Representative Anthony Weiner, embroiled himself in multiple sexting scandals before she announced their separation in 2016.
Mr. Soros and Ms. Abedin announced their engagement last July. They initially planned to elope, Vogue reported on Saturday, but they changed their minds after an engagement party co-hosted by Mrs. Clinton in December, where attendees pressured the couple to hold a more traditional celebration.
“I think she deserves it,” Mrs. Clinton told the magazine. “She deserves to have that kind of moment.”
The weekend festivities included a smaller ceremony to honor both Ms. Abedin’s Muslim faith and Mr. Soros’s Jewish heritage, Vogue reported.
In contrast to Mr. Soros, Ms. Abedin has shown a desire for privacy. She began working for Mrs. Clinton as a 19-year-old intern while attending George Washington University, and gradually stepped into more public-facing roles. She wrote a memoir in 2021 and is now an MSNBC contributor.
Now, her marriage to Mr. Soros will cement them as a political it-couple, and they will continue to find themselves in the public eye.
This weekend, the Hamptons resembled a Clinton-era reunion as guests flooded rehearsal buffets and expensive hotels for catch-up meals and drinks, according to those who attended.
“Traffic has been chaos the last couple days,” said Zach Erdem, a restaurateur and television personality who has lived in nearby Southampton since 2002.
The moneyed scene was especially striking given the Democratic Party’s raging debate over how to improve its historically low standing with voters and win back working-class Americans, with whom it is widely seen as having lost touch.
As Maseratis, Porsches and other luxury cars glided down the road outside the wedding venue, some curious drivers slowed down before security officers quickly shooed them along. One woman leaned out from a passenger seat and waved her arms, yelling, “Hi, Bill!” It was unclear if Mr. Clinton was within earshot.
The wedding may be elite society’s most coveted summer gathering for only a matter of weeks. Later this month, some of the same guests will travel to Venice for the nuptials of a different power couple: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.
Lisa Lerer contributed reporting. Jack Begg contributed research.
Theodore Schleifer is a Times reporter covering billionaires and their impact on the world.
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