Former President Donald Trump teed up a defense of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament amid uproar over his decision to host two of its events at his properties.
Trump, who has faced criticism from relatives of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks for doing business with a Saudi-backed tournament, speculated that the PGA Tour will merge with LIV and insinuated that working with the new golf tournament is “smart” business.
TRUMP HOSTING SAUDI-BACKED LIV SERIES AT GOLF CLUBS DESPITE 9/11 FAMILIES’ PLEAS
“All of those golfers that remain ‘loyal’ to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big ‘thank you’ from PGA officials who are making Millions of Dollars a year,” he wrote in a post to his social media platform Truth Social.
The former president stressed that those who backed out of the tournament stand to lose money due to his belief that there will be a merger between LIV and PGA, two major professional golf tours. Organizers behind LIV have reportedly been appealing to PGA players with lucrative bonuses.
“If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place, and only say how smart the original signees were. Good luck to all, and congratulations to really talented Cam Smith on his incredible WIN,” he continued in his post.
Cam Smith, an Australian golf player who won the British Open, is one of the players expected to play in LIV.
Families of some victims of the Sept. 11 attacks decried the move and pleaded with Trump to call off the tournament because it is receiving funding from Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. A group called 9/11 Justice pointed out that Trump previously blasted Saudi Arabia for the terrorist attacks.
“We are outraged that President Trump would allow this while Saudi Arabia continues to actively conceal its culpability for the 9/11 attacks. As a country, we must stand up to Saudi Arabia’s campaign to sportswash its past and remind them that we will never forget,” said Brett Eagleson, president of 9/11 Justice.
Trump is hosting two of the eight events for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament at his golf resorts. The first is slated for the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey from July 29–31, and the second is slated for Trump National Dural in Miami from October 27–30.
The PGA tour previously yanked tournaments from Trump resorts, including in 2016 and 2021, likely the source of Trump’s swipe that the tournament is “disloyal.”
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During his presidency, Trump stood by Saudi Arabia despite human rights concerns, such as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which several intelligence officials have pinned on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
President Joe Biden recently faced similar criticism for his coziness with the Saudis during his trip to the oil-rich nation, defending his decision to greet bin Salman with a fist bump despite concerns that the gesture legitimized the ruler.
