NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The families of 9/11 victims are urging Mayor Eric Adams to cancel the approval of a Saudi Arabia-supported women's golf tournament scheduled for October at the Bronx golf course managed by former President Donald Trump's business — or "stay away" from "any" 9/11 memorials.
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"9/11 Justice is calling for New York City Mayor Adams, to stay away from Ground Zero and any and all other 9/11 memorials and events unless his office rescinds its approval of the Saudi funded Aramco Golf Series coming to New York City in October at the Trump Links (Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point) course," Brett Eagleson said in a statement to CNN reported Monday.
The plan to host the Aramco Team Series at the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx comes after New York City's attempt to cancel Trump's contract to run the course was thrown out by a judge in April.
Former Mayor Bill de Blasio said shortly after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, that he was canceling Trump's contracts to run the golf course and several Central Park concessions. The Democratic mayor said the city had the legal right to terminate a contract with a company whose leaders are engaged in criminal activity such as inciting an insurrection.
Manhattan state court Judge Debra James ruled that the city's claim that the Trump Organization had breached the contracts lacked any legal foundation.
The Aramco Team Series, first played in 2020 as the Saudi Ladies Team International, is financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
The Saudi fund is also backing the LIV Golf tour — set up as a rival to the PGA Tour — which played a tournament at Trump's Bedminster, New Jersey, course last month.
Members of 9/11 Justice gathered just down the street from the club at the start of the tournament and blasted the former president for partnering with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, less than 50 miles from ground zero.
Trump defended hosting the New Jersey tournament and shared skepticism linking Saudi Arabia and 9/11.
"Well, nobody's gotten to the bottom of 9/11, unfortunately, and they should have," Trump said when asked to respond to the mounting criticism.
In a 2016 Fox News interview, Trump blamed the Saudis himself. "Who blew up the World Trade Center?" Trump said on "Fox & Friends." "It wasn’t the Iraqis — it was Saudi. Take a look at Saudi Arabia. Open the documents."
Federal documents show the Saudi government helped the hijackers.
CNN reached out to the Trump Organization and the Aramco Team Series for comment.
Eagleson, who lost his father, Bruce, on 9/11, told the outlet Saturday that "the fact that this news is breaking less than two weeks before 9/11 on the heels of the LIV tournament in Bedminster, I just think that the entire 9/11 community has had it."
"It’s egregious, it's in your face and its tone-deaf," he added.
Adams’ press secretary, Fabien Levy, told CNN that the administration's hands are tied.
"While we disagree with the values of the Trump Organization, we cannot legally block their application," he said.
Nick Paolucci, a spokesperson for the city law department, said, "As the decision in the previous administration’s court case displayed, contractually, the city is obligated to follow the terms of the Trump Ferry license agreement and cannot unreasonably withhold approval of this tournament."
Eagleson told CNN that Adams should still meet with some members of the 9/11 community to show he's willing to come to some sort of solution.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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