New York
CNN Business
,
A version of this article first appeared in the “Trusted Sources” newsletter. You can sign up right here for free.
The LIV golf event starting at Donald Trump’s Bedminster Club on Friday is creating more controversy by the day. On Tuesday, the National Press Club added its voice to the mix, saying non-stop statement That it is a “rebellion” from the upcoming case and hope that it will fail.
A quick recap for those who may need it: LIV is a Saudi-backed golf league that has taken the sport forward by challenging the dominance of the PGA. This has lured athletes to participate in their events with huge payouts. But it has been the subject of significant controversy because it is funded by Saudis who have an atrocious record on human rights.
National Press Club, “We call on all Americans to watch this senseless attempt to downplay the horrific bone-saw attack on Washington Post opinion writer Jamal Khashoggi—a brutal state-sponsored murder.” said in his scathing statement. “We call upon the people of Vivek to reject this tournament. Don’t be present Don’t watch it on television. Let it fail.”
The National Press Club criticized Trump for hosting the event in Bedminster. It said Trump’s role managed to make the event “even more rebellious” as it reminded the group that the former president had worked to downplay Khashoggi’s killing.
The journalism advocacy organization continued, “We note that at one of LIV’s first news conferences their executives yelled a question from an AP reporter and kicked him out of the room saying he was rude. This is how the LIV episode started. They silenced the press. Again.”
And the National Press Club concluded its statement by discouraging PR firms from doing business with LIV Golf. “We note that LIV is currently seeking representation by a public relations firm to make the killing of a journalist more acceptable to the American public through golf,” the organization said. “We call on the public relations firms, many of which employ former journalists, to reject this blood money. We understand that clients need representation, but it seems fair to draw the line at clients who are a Let’s use the journalist’s bone. We hope a potential PR firm thinks very carefully before agreeing to work for LIV.”
On Tuesday, a group of 9/11 survivors said in a press conference they were “shocked” by the “offensive, humiliating and hurtful” incident that took place in Bedminster. Terry Strada, president of 9/11 Family United, said that LIV golf “is not about the game or good competition between qualified competitors.” Instead, Strada said that at its heart “it is a multi-billion dollar public relations stunt bought and paid for by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” CNN’s Liam Reilly and Ben Morse here is more,
In an interview published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he believed public interest in Khashoggi’s death had waned. “I can say that from Khashoggi’s point of view, he has died so low,” Trump told the newspaper, “It looks like it’s really completely dead.”
“No one has asked me this question in months,” Trump said.
However, Trump said he believes LIV has generated “great propaganda for Saudi Arabia”. He said in his estimation that the country “deserves” his “promotion” with the LIV Golf League which they are doing “because it has become so exciting.” Trump said he thinks PR is “worth billions of dollars…”
I checked in with LIV on Tuesday evening to see if it had any comments on the National Press Club statement. I didn’t hear back. But LIV. spokesperson of told CNNin relation to criticism of 9/11 survivors, “As we have always said, we have our deepest sympathies to these families. While some may not agree, we believe that golf is a cause for good around the world. There is strength. 9/11 families are planning to protest in Bedminster this week…
