"It's extremely disrespectful, hurtful and painful," Mr. Eagleson, who came to demonstrate on Friday with other relatives of victims and survivors of the World Trade Center attacks outside the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, told AFP. in New Jersey, which hosts a dissident LIV Golf circuit competition for three days.

Brett Eagleson, who was 15 when his father died under the rubble of the twin towers on September 11, is the head of an association of families of victims, called 9/11 Justice, holding Saudi Arabia as an accomplice of the attacks.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, in addition to al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who orchestrated the attacks.

An FBI memo released last year also hinted at potential Saudi government involvement, although Riyadh flatly denies the accusations.

Another LIV event will take place at a Donald Trump club -- in Doral, Fla., from Oct. 27-30 -- as the former president himself believed during the 2016 presidential campaign, without evidence, that Saudi Arabia was partly responsible for the attacks.

Now 'he is making the choice to welcome the kingdom to his land, a stone's throw from where 750 people have been killed,' Mr Eagleson exclaims in reference to the number of New Jerseyans who have died in the September 11 attacks.

"It's completely infuriating," he continues.

Partly financed by the Saudi public investment fund and headed by former world No.1 Greg Norman, the LIV Golf circuit is trying to attract the big names in golf with juicy contracts that can reach several hundred million dollars. dollars.

Several human rights associations have criticized the new circuit, which they say only exists to restore the international image of Saudi Arabia, a maneuver known as "sportswashing".

A keen golfer, Donald Trump has proven himself a staunch supporter of LIV, urging players to "take the money", and has signed with the tour.

The Republican himself played Thursday in Bedminster in a mixed professional and amateur format, alongside two champions recruited by LIV, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson.

Money before morality

For Brett Eagleson, Donald Trump's commitment to LIV will cost him politically, as the 76-year-old billionaire openly flirts with the idea of ​​running again in 2024.

"Some of our biggest 9/11 activists came from families of New York firefighters and police officers. And they were some of Trump's biggest supporters. Well, that's over," launched the 36-year-old man.

The organizers of the LIV tournament have already offered the families of victims of September 11 "their sincere condolences".

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But for Tim Frolich, survivor of the attacks, the tournament has reopened old wounds.

"I had trouble sleeping last night, because of anger", details the fifty-year-old to AFP while photos of victims are brandished by their relatives, who wear "Never forget" T-shirts. .

Mr Eagleson's father, Bruce, was at a meeting on the 17th floor of the South Tower when terrorists crashed Flight 175 into the skyscraper.

He was 53 years old.

Bruce Eagleson was a huge golf fan and his favorite player was Phil Mickelson, among the first stars of the profession to agree to join the LIV Tour.

"I don't know how he manages to look in the mirror," criticizes Brett Eagleson.

"He literally chose to put money above all moral sense."

More protests are planned for upcoming LIV Circuit events in Boston, Chicago and Miami.

“We are here to stay,” warns Mr. Eagleson.

© 2022 AFP