Donald Trump's firm in talks to host Saudi-backed golf events: report

At least two of former US president Donald Trump's golf courses could host events for the Saudi Arabia-backed Super Golf League, sources told The Washington Post.

Sports

1 min read

The New Arab Staff

20 February, 2022

Trump was a staunch defender of Saudi Arabia while president [The Washington Post via Getty]

A company owned by former US president Donald Trump is in talks to host events for a new Saudi-backed golf tour, The Washington Post reported on Saturday.

At least two of his golf courses in the United States could be named as sites for the Super Golf League events, the US news outlet reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter who wanted to stay anonymous.

One of the sources said Trump himself had spoken to the head of the apparatus trying to set up the tour, LIV Golf Investments.

LIV is backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

Saudi Arabia has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in sports through the PIF, including its acquisition of English football club Newcastle United.

Human rights groups and other critics of Saudi Arabia's rulers say the kingdom is using sports and the arts to gloss over its rights abuses.

Trump was a staunch defender of Saudi Arabia while in office. The former US president, an avid golf fan, reportedly owns 19 courses worldwide.