Donald Trump under fire over 'jaw-dropping' comments at LIV event

Former US President Donald Trump has been condemned across social media after claiming that “nobody’s gotten to the bottom” of the September 11 terrorist attacks during a controversial defence of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.

Trump took part in a promotional round of golf at one of his own courses, which will play host to the next LIV event starting on Friday in the States.

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The third LIV Golf tournament will take place at the Trump National Bedminster course, with the former President taking part in a pro-am game on the eve of the event.

The latest LIV Golf event has been shrouded in controversy, with Trump's New Jersey course located just 80km from where the Twin Towers once stood.

Families of 9/11 victims have been deeply opposed to the event and its ties to Saudi Arabia, considering 15 of the 19 hijackers who crashed planes into the World Trade Centre were Saudi nationals.

Addressing the controversy, Trump only fuelled the flames further by attempting to defend his decision to host one of the Saudi-backed events.

“Well, nobody’s gotten to the bottom of 9/11, unfortunately, and they should have as to the maniacs that did that horrible thing to our city, to our country, to our world,” Trump said.

“So nobody’s really been there.”

The former President then did his best to put a positive spin on the controversial LIV series, by highlighting the money it would bring in for charity and the players.

"There are a lot of really great people that are out here today, and we’re gonna have a lot of fun," Trump added.

“We’re going to celebrate and money’s going to charity. A lot of money (is) going to charity.

“I’ve known these people for a long time They’ve been friends of mine for a long time. They’ve invested in many American companies. They own big percentages of many, many American companies and, frankly, what they’re doing for golf is so great. What they’re doing for the players is so great. The salaries are going to go way up.”

Donald Trump called out over Saudi remarks

A group representing the families of the 9/11 victims this week took aim at Trump in a letter that pointed out his previous suggestions that Saudi Arabia was behind the attacks on the World Trade Center.

“Who blew up the World Trade Center?” Trump told Fox News in a 2016 interview.

“It wasn’t the Iraqis - it was Saudi. Take a look at Saudi Arabia. Open the documents.”

The víctims' families say they “simply cannot understand” how Trump could support a business venture bankrolled by the Saudis, stressing that it has caused them “extreme pain, frustration, and anger”.

Similar sentiments of outrage were shared across social media, with users labelling Trump's comments about 9/11 "jaw-dropping" and "disgraceful".

with agencies

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