The Democratic establishment gathered this weekend in the Hamptons for a wedding that resembled a royal coronation in the world of politics – an event that merged moneyed political elites with some of the most influential figures of the Clinton era.
The newlyweds were Alex Soros, son of George Soros – the Democratic Party’s most generous donor – and Huma Abedin, a longtime political aide often described as Hillary Clinton’s surrogate daughter. The wedding took place on Saturday at one of the Soros family estates in Water Mill, New York, drawing private jets and a crowd of Clinton-world veterans, concentrating an unusual amount of wealth and power in one location.
Beyond the couple’s families, the guest list included Mrs. Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton; Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff; New York Senator and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer; former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; celebrities like Nicky Hilton Rothschild; cultural figures like Vogue editor Anna Wintour; longtime Clinton confidantes such as San Francisco power broker Susie Tompkins Buell; and international figures including Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama.
This star-studded gathering was described by four attendees and several representatives of the guests. The couple’s representatives did not immediately comment.
The vocal group Boyz II Men performed at the wedding, according to two attendees, and among those who gave toasts were Alex Soros’s brother Jonathan, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Wintour, and Edi Rama. The menu featured truffle agnolotti, chilled English pea soup, and American-Japanese Wagyu beef with grilled prawns.
The festivities coincided with a remarkably chaotic weekend both domestically 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 killed in a new outbreak of political violence; and intensifying clashes between Israel and Iran sparked fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
Things were far calmer in the Hamptons, where caravans of black SUVs carried guests down a wooded lane and through a gate adorned with purple flowers.
Alex Soros is one of the more intriguing figures in the donor world. Holding a Ph.D. in history, he has already taken over the philanthropic operations long led by his father, now 94, who has supported liberal causes worldwide and is reviled by the far right. The younger Soros has described himself as “more political” than his father.
Now 39, Alex Soros has embraced the spotlight, regularly posting on social media about his meetings with Democratic leaders.
He is likely to be a key player in liberal philanthropy for decades to come, and many in progressive circles want to stay close to him.
His romance with Huma Abedin, 49, has fascinated parts of the elite social world – in part because her last marriage ended dramatically: her ex-husband, former Congressman Anthony Weiner, was involved in a series of sex scandals before she announced their separation in 2016.
Soros and Abedin announced their engagement last July. They originally planned a private ceremony, Vogue reported Saturday, but changed their minds after a December engagement party co-hosted by Hillary Clinton, where guests encouraged the couple to hold a more traditional celebration.
“I think she deserves it,” Clinton told the magazine. “She deserves to have a moment like that.”
The weekend’s events included a smaller ceremony honoring both Ms. Abedin’s Muslim faith and Mr. Soros’s Jewish heritage.
Unlike Mr. Soros, Ms. Abedin has expressed a desire for privacy. She began working for Mrs. Clinton as a 19-year-old intern while studying at George Washington University, gradually taking on increasingly public roles. She published a memoir in 2021 and is currently a contributor on MSNBC.
Now, her marriage to Alex Soros cements them as a political couple likely to remain in the public eye.
This weekend, the Hamptons felt like a Clinton-era reunion, as guests filled rehearsal dinner tables and expensive hotels to eat and drink something new, according to attendees.
“Traffic has been chaos the last few days,” said Zach Erdem, a restaurateur and TV personality who has lived in nearby Southampton since 2002.
The scene of wealth was striking, especially amid the Democratic Party’s intense debate over how to regain support from working-class voters, with whom it is widely seen as out of touch.
As Maseratis, Porsches, and other luxury cars glided along the road near the wedding site, passersby occasionally stopped to look.
One woman leaned out of the passenger seat and waved, shouting, “Hi, Bill!” It wasn’t clear if Clinton was close enough to hear.
This may be the summer’s most talked-about wedding among the social elite – but only for a few weeks. Later this month, many of the same guests will head to Venice for another power couple’s wedding: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez.
