Donald Trump is very happy to be hosting the new “LIV Golf Tour’s” second tournament in the United States at Bedminster New Jersey. The LIV Tour (It is pronounced as it sounds, “live,” but the LIV actually stands for the Roman numerals for “54” because, unlike traditional PGA tour events that have four rounds of 72 holes, the LIV Tour plays three rounds or 54 holes.), the tour is highly controversial because it is entirely funded by Saudi-backed, oil and blood-soaked money in a naked effort at what’s become known as “sportswashing.” Whereby a country or company attempts to improve its image by appealing to fans of sports. Trump is all in when it comes to golf and never did seem very concerned about the murderous Saudi regime anyway.
Trump is so oblivious to human rights, people’s pain, ethics, and the values behind the criticism lobbed at the Saudis that Trump is happy that the Saudis have a chance to wipe some of that blood off. As quoted by the Wall Street Journal:
“I think LIV has been a great thing for Saudi Arabia, for the image of Saudi Arabia,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be an incredible investment from that standpoint, and that’s more valuable than lots of other things because you can’t buy that—even with billions of dollars.”
Trump is so “out of it” when it comes to values and principles, along with just being out of it, generally, that in the quote above, he admits that putting on a golf tour is a great way to cover for the blood flowing from murdered journalists, and dissidents. You can’t buy that kind of love. (Actually, you can. That’s why it’s called “sportswashing.”)
As for Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident who was under Trump’s protection as president? Does it bother Trump? Pffft:
“I can say that from the standpoint of Khashoggi, that has died down so much,” he said. “It really seems to have totally died down… nobody has asked me that question in months.”
Oh, well then, it is almost like it never happened, right? This, ironically, circles back to the point of the LIV Tour itself, an attempt to get people to see the Saudis as “fun guys” who bring fun golf and fun money wherever they go. And Trump should be slapped for saying that anything about Khashoggi has “died down,” other than the fact that Khashoggi remains dead, killed horrifically. Who has time to think of bone saws and fires when there are tee times to organize?
Trump has also angered the 9-11 families who utterly rejected the small olive branch Trump offered.
While members of the Saudi-funded LIV golf tour prepare to continue ‘sportswashing’ the Kingdom’s reputation by playing in another tournament on U.S. soil, 9/11 Families United and members of the 9/11 community will remind them next week yet again that Saudi Arabia provided support for al-Qaeda and the 9/11 hijackers.”
As for Trump, personally? From Rawstory:
Juliette Scauso, whose father was killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks more than 20 years ago, told CNN this week that Trump’s decision to host the Saudi tournament was “disgusting.”
“Now he’s taking money from them and profiting from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” she said. “Meanwhile, the kingdom is currently awaiting trial in federal court against the 9/11 families over these attacks. You know, of course, we are awaiting that justice, but yeah, it’s hard to find the words.”
Correct. It is hard to find the words, and since Trump hasn’t heard much about Khashoggi or 9-11 lately, it’s time to do exactly what the Saudis set out to do, forget about it entirely, make some money, and brand oneself in a way that money cannot buy.
The Saudi golf tour and Trump; A match made in hell.
@JasonMiciak believes a day without learning is a day not lived. He is a political writer, features writer, author, and attorney. He is a Canadian-born dual citizen who spent his teen and college years in the Pacific Northwest and has since lived in seven states. He now enjoys life as a single dad of a young girl, writing from the beaches of the Gulf Coast. He loves crafting his flower pots, cooking, and currently studies philosophy of science, religion, and non-math principles behind quantum mechanics and cosmology. Please feel free to contact for speaking engagements or any concerns.