A Saudi golf tournament in the United States: Donald Trump creates controversy

The tournament, funded by Saudi Arabia, will take place at the former US president’s private club, a few kilometers from the Twin Towers that collapsed during the September 11, 2021 attacks.

IRespected”, “hurt”: for Brett Eagleson, holding, a few kilometers from the spot where terrorists attacked his father on September 11, 2001 for a golf tournament financially supported by Saudi Arabia at the private club of former President Donald Was murdered. Trump, is a disgrace.

“It is extremely humiliating, hurtful and painful,” said Mr Eagleson, who came to a demonstration in front of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster on Friday with the victims of the World Trade Center attacks and other relatives of the survivors. Jersey, which hosts a dissimilar LIV golf circuit competition for three days.

Brett Eagleson, who was 15 when his father died under the rubble of the Twin Towers on September 11, heads a consortium of victims’ families called 9/11 Justice, which helped Saudi Arabia defend the attacks. keep it as a companion. In addition to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals who carried out the attacks. An FBI memo released last year also indicated possible Saudi government involvement, though Riyadh flatly denied the allegations.

Another LIV event will take place at the Donald Trump Club – in Doral, Florida – from October 27 to 30 – when the former president himself speculated without evidence during the 2016 presidential campaign that Saudi Arabia was partially responsible for the attacks.

Now ‘he is choosing to welcome the state to his land, a stone’s throw from where 750 people have died,’ Mr. Eagleson said in reference to the number of New Jerseyans killed in the September 11 attacks. “It’s absolutely infuriating,” she continues.

Partially financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and headed by former world No. 1 Greg Norman, the LIV golf circuit is trying to attract the big names in golf with juicy contracts that can reach several hundred million dollars. Dollar.

Several human rights groups have criticized the new circuit, which they say exists only to restore Saudi Arabia’s international image, a maneuver known as “sportswashing”. A keen golfer, Donald Trump has proven himself to be a staunch supporter of LIV, urging players to “take the money”, and signing on with the tour. The Republicans played in a mixed professional and amateur format at Bedminster on Thursday, with the two champions recruited by the LIV, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson.

money before morality

For Brett Eagleson, Donald Trump’s commitment to LIV will cost him politically, as the 76-year-old billionaire openly flirts with the idea of ​​running again in 2024.

“Some of our great 9/11 activists come from the families of firefighters and police officers in New York. And they have been some of the biggest supporters of Trump. Well, it is over,” said the 36-year-old, organizers of the LIV tournament. Already offered “their heartfelt condolences” to the families of the victims of September 11.

But for attacks survivor Tim Frolich, the tournament has reopened old wounds. “I had trouble sleeping last night, due to anger”, the fifty-year-old describes to AFP, while photos of victims are branded by their relatives, who wear “let’s never forget” T-shirts. ,

Mr. Eagleson’s father, Bruce, was in a meeting on the 17th floor of the South Tower when terrorists crashed Flight 175 into a skyscraper. He was 53 years old. Bruce Eagleson was a big fan of golf and his favorite player was Phil Mickelson, one of the first stars in the profession to agree to join the LIV Tour.