“The tip of the iceberg”… – Big worries about Donald Trump after the latest LIV Golf event
People have shared worries about Donald Trump’s presidency after the recent LIV Golf event at his golf course in Virginia. From May 7 to 10, LIV Golf held their latest tournament at Trump National Golf Club in Potomac Falls, Virginia. For a few years now, Trump’s golf courses have hosted events for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league, which features some of the biggest names in the sport.
This year, Australian golfer Lucas Herbert won the event with an impressive score of 24 under par, finishing ahead of Sergio García and Bryson DeChambeau. The tournament took place just weeks after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it will stop funding LIV Golf after this season, leaving questions about what’s next for the league.
But the big topic isn’t just the league’s future. Experts are raising concerns about conflicts of interest and ethics, especially since Trump benefits financially from hosting events linked to a foreign government accused of human rights abuses. Since LIV Golf started back in 2021, critics have said the Saudi government uses the league for “sportswashing” — trying to shift attention away from serious human rights issues.
LIV Golf isn’t the only sports venture funded by the Saudi PIF. They’re also involved in Formula One, combat sports, tennis, and football — most notably through creating the Saudi Pro League and buying the Newcastle United football club in 2021. Given Trump’s influence in politics, some worry about his choice to let LIV Golf events take place on his courses across the U.S.
“Saudi Arabia is a murderous, authoritarian, anti-democratic regime,” said Kathleen Clark, a government ethics professor, in an interview with CNN. She added, “(Trump’s) willingness to do this really shows what his priorities are.”
During his time as president, Trump met with Saudi officials many times. Last year, when he hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House, Trump shut down a reporter’s question about the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump called the journalist “extremely controversial” and suggested the question was meant to embarrass the Crown Prince. He downplayed Saudi involvement, even though the CIA said the Crown Prince probably ordered the murder.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Richard Painter, a corporate law professor at the University of Minnesota, in a CNN interview. “The message worldwide seems to be: if you want to get along with the Trump administration, work with the Trump family, his golf courses, or his son.”
Saudi officials have denied any role in Khashoggi’s death, and in 2021, the Saudi Foreign Ministry released a statement rejecting the accusations. They called the report “negative, false and unacceptable” and said it contained wrong information and conclusions.
Overall, the LIV Golf event at Trump’s course has brought up important questions about ethics, politics, and sports.