BEDMINSTER, N.J. (WCBS 880) — The slogan on the cluster of red caps at former President Donald Trump's Bedminster golf club is "9/11 Justice," not "Make America Great Again."
9/11 families are blasting Trump for partnering with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour this weekend, 50 miles from ground zero.
On Friday, several dozen protesters with the group 9/11 Justice gathered just down the street from Trump's club, including Tim Frolich, who was injured in the South Tower.
"It's deplorable," he said. "You, along with professional golfers, have also decided to accept blood money from this rogue Saudi government. Facts are facts, Mr. President. We now have those facts."
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."
However, on Thursday, the Republican defended hosting the 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.
Federal documents show the Saudi government helped the hijackers.
Jay Winuk, the 9/11 Day co-founder who lost his brother Glenn Winuk in the terrorist attacks, mocked the name of the tournament.
"LIV Golf?," he said. "To me and to so many more of us? It's more like death golf."
Backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, LIV Golf has been awarding massive amounts of money to players — various reports put total signing fees at around $1 billion so far. The PGA Tour has suspended players who join for violating regulations that require a release to play overseas. It does not grant releases for tournaments held in North America.
The prize money at LIV Golf events totals $25 million, with the winner getting $4 million. Last place in the 54-hole events with no cut is guaranteed $120,000.
The third LIV event now has 12 former major champions on its roster, though only five are among the top 50 in the world ranking. Some of the most well-known are Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau.
Juliette Scauso, whose firefighter father Dennis Scauso died on 9/11, criticized Trump and the participating golfers in the tournament.
"My father wasn't the type of person who could be bought," the 25-year-old said. "I just want you to know if you were there that day my father would have run in to save you without a second thought."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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