National Press Club Calls For Boycott Of Saudi-Backed LIV Golf Event

Topline

The National Press Club on Tuesday became the latest group to slam LIV Golf over its financial ties to the government of Saudi Arabia, urging viewers to avoid tuning into the “blood money” organization’s upcoming event this week in a scorching statement—and criticizing former President Donald Trump for hosting this week’s tournament at his New Jersey golf club.

Key Facts

The journalism organization urged Americans to neither watch nor attend this week’s tournament, framing it as an attempt to downplay the murder of Washington Post columnist and Saudi government critic Jamal Khashoggi, whose death U.S. intelligence agencies believe was authorized by the Saudi leadership.

The organization expressed outrage over Trump hosting the tournament, saying he “bragged of distracting Congress from the murder” by initially withholding documents that it said likely proved the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement in Khashoggi’s murder.

Additionally, the statement criticized Saudi Arabia’s financial contributions to the Trump family, pointing to the Crown Prince’s $2 billion investment in Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s investment fund earlier this year.

The journalism organization also pointed out that an Associated Press reporter was removed from an earlier LIV press conference by officials after asking a question.

The statement concluded by advising public relations firms not to collaborate with the LIV enterprise, asking them to “reject this blood money” and warning them that being associated with the organization will hurt their reputation.

Crucial Quote

“We call on all Americans to see this unsavory attempt to minimize the grisly bone-saw attack on Washington Post opinion writer Jamal Khashoggi for what it is – an attempt to sweep under the rug a brutal state-sponsored murder,” the statement read. “We call on people of conscience to reject this tournament. Do not attend. Do not watch it on television. Let it fail.”

Key Background

The National Press Club’s statement adds to an already-heated discussion about the Saudi-financed LIV Golf, which is seeking to challenge the PGA Tour’s supremacy. In the past months, some of U.S. golf’s biggest names have been lured to the league with reported nine-digit-paydays—some of whom have drawn backlash for being dismissive of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. A group of September 11 attack survivors and victims’ families have spoken out against the tournament taking place at Trump’s New Jersey club, which is 50 miles away from Ground Zero. Some victims’ families have long argued Saudi authorities could have ties to the September 11 attacks, which were carried out mostly by hijackers from Saudi Arabia—though the Saudi government has fervently denied these claims. Khashoggi’s death has also drawn controversy: U.S. intelligence agencies found last year Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—who chairs the sovereign wealth fund backing the LIV Golf tour—approved U.S.-based journalist Khashoggi’s murder in Istanbul in 2018.

What To Watch For

The third LIV Golf tournament kicks off in Bedminster, New Jersey, this Friday. September 11 survivors and families are expected to protest the site.