'Great publicity for Saudi Arabia': Trump sings praises of controversial LIV Golf tour

Donald Trump praised the controversial Saudi-owned LIV Golf tour ahead of its weekend tournament at his Trump National Golf Club-Washington, D.C., according to a report.

The ex-president told reporters Thursday, as he played with his son Eric Trump and golfers Patrick Reed and Bob Koepka, that the tour had a bright future and "unlimited money," reported USA Today.

"I think the (PGA) Tour made a major mistake by playing games," he said. "They have unlimited money, and they love it, and it's been great publicity for Saudi Arabia."

Trump then boasted about his golf resorts.

"I think I have the best courses. It's the best course in the Tri-state area," he said. "It's the best course, it's not even a contest. I think it's one of the best properties anywhere in the world. You have the Potomac River -- not just any river, you have the Potomac River. There's no other golf course that can be on the Potomac, and certainly no other golf course like this."

LIV Golf has been criticized as a way to launder Saudi Arabia's abysmal reputation for human rights abuses -- including assassinations, torture and forced disappearances -- and members of its royal family have been accused of involvement in the the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.