Former President Trump has declared that his two Scottish golf courses and his Los Angeles club are part of talks to host the controversial Saudi golf league.
A source familiar with discussions said that Trump’s two Scottish courses, Turnberry and Trump International Golf Links, are both part of the Trump Organization’s plans to land lucrative deals if the Saudi-backed venture gets off the ground.
In rejection to the move, members of 9/11 Justice sent the former president a letter that noted Trump has previously acknowledged Saudi Arabia was partially responsible for the 2001 attacks. The group asked that Trump reconsider his business relationship with the Saudi-funded golf league.
LIV Golf Investments, the Saudi-backed venture headed by golf great Greg Norman, has been trying to lure players away from the PGA Tour to compete on its rival circuit.
Talks between the Trump Organization and LIV Golf Investments were first reported by the Washington Post. It named Bedminster and Trump’s Doral course in Florida as possible venues for the new tour.
The former president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was also spotted in the crowd at the Saudi tournament.
Saudi Arabia’s plans for the new tour are highly controversial because of the kingdom’s human rights record and accusations that its crown prince ordered the murder of Washington Post journalist Kamal Khashoggi.
MBS Attempts to Whitewash Poor Record
A Saudi consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has successfully purchased England’s Newcastle United soccer team after 18 months of protracted disputes.
The takeover of Newcastle United in a £300m ($408 million) deal has been widely condemned by human rights institutions as a new attempt to whitewash the Saudi poor human rights record.
“If it is true that Newcastle United are changing their away kit to match Saudi Arabia’s national colours, it exposes the power of the Saudi dollar and the kingdom’s determination to sportswash its brutal, blood-soaked human-rights record,” Felix Jakens, an Amnesty International spokesman said.
“Everyone – from fans to champions – needs to resist being part of Saudi Arabia’s propaganda drive, be aware of what is going on there and speak out about the government’s abuses. Sport must not be allowed to be used like this,” Jakens added.
Saudi Arabia is regularly criticised by human rights groups for its detention and torture of political opponents and for its intervention in the military conflict in Yemen, which has led to thousands of civilian deaths.
The murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018 also led to worldwide outrage.
