Former US President Donald Trump has defended hosting a Saudi-funded tournament at his golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, by questioning any connection between the kingdom and the September 11 attacks.
Asked for a response to harsh criticism from families of 9/11 victims urging Americans to protest against the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Championship, Trump noted that “there remains uncertainty surrounding the attacks.”
“Well, no one got to the bottom of 9/11…unfortunately they should,” Trump added. This week, the “9/11 Justice” group issued a 30-second ad reproaching the championship for its decade: “50 Miles of Ground” Zero”, and accused the golfers participating in the competition of accepting “blood money”.
Trump said in a press statement: “I think the LIV Championship was a great thing for Saudi Arabia and for the image of Saudi Arabia.”
“I’ve known these guys for a long time in Saudi Arabia, and they’ve been friends of mine for a long time,” Trump explained.
It should be noted that the event is the first competition for the championship on US soil, as Trump rejected the protesters’ calls to cancel the event.
On Friday, the Trump National Golf Club in Bidminster hosted the third event of the LIV Golf Championship, the new Saudi-backed professional circuit, competing for the PGA Championship.
In the run-up to the weekend tournament, Trump promoted the event in interviews and public statements, encouraging golfers to join LIV Golf and disparage the PGA Championship.
A group of photos taken last Thursday morning showed President Donald Trump playing golf alongside his son Eric, the Governor of the Public Investment Fund, Yasser Al-Rumayyan, and a number of professional golfers.