Earlier than teeing off on Thursday, former President Donald Trump defended internet hosting a controversial Saudi-backed golf event at his Bedminster membership in New Jersey, simply 50 miles from Floor Zero.
"No person's gotten to the underside of 9/11, sadly. And they need to have," he informed ESPN.
Final September, an FBI report confirmed proof that two Saudi officers offered assist to not less than two of the 9/11 terrorists. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers had been Saudi nationals.
Trump praised the LIV Golf tour, which is backed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — who, U.S. intelligence officers concluded in 2018, approved the homicide of Washington Submit columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
"I've identified these folks for a very long time in Saudi Arabia and so they have been associates of mine for a very long time," Trump stated.
LIV Golf launched this summer time and is poaching stars from the PGA Tour by paying them big charges for becoming a member of and large payouts for profitable. The winner of this week's occasion can be awarded $4 million — practically $1.5 million greater than the Masters Match's prime prize.
Earlier this week, 9/11 households launched an advert that stated, "I'm by no means going to forgive the golfers for taking this blood cash."
Dennis McGinley, whose brother died on the World Commerce Middle, stated he was shocked to be taught that Trump's golf course would host the LIV event.
"It is anger past comprehension," McGinley informed CBS Information. "This has been a David-versus-Goliath battle. I simply want these golfers, the sports activities icons, a former president would stand with the Davids and never with the Goliath."
On Wednesday evening, Trump and former first girl Melania Trump partied with among the LIV gamers, together with Dustin Johnson, whose reported contracts are upwards of $100 million every. When requested for affirmation, LIV Golf informed CBS Information, "We don't touch upon confidential contracts."
However for McGinley and others who misplaced family members on 9/11, the ache remains to be uncooked.
"The 9/11 group has needed to develop a very thick pores and skin during the last 21 years," he stated. "That is such a kick within the intestine, a ripping open of the wound once more."