Donald Trump explains reason for dropping Doral as venue for G7 Summit

US President Donald Trump had to backtrack from his earlier plan to host G-7 summit at his golf resort in Miami next year. The intergovernmental meeting of the Group of Seven is scheduled for June 2020 and the US President had decided to host the summit at Trump National Doral Miami, a family-owned resort. But Trump met with severe criticism from the Opposition and the decision was also frowned upon by many within the party after which he dropped the plan.

Questions of Conflict of Interest

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney mentioned dozens of other options for the venue and said that Trump’s resort was “by far and away — far and away — the best physical facility for this meeting”. Mick Mulvaney, while announcing the venue of the summit on October 17, faced questions regarding the conflict of interest during the press briefing.

“I think the President has pretty much made it very clear since he’s got here that he doesn’t profit from being here.  He has no interest in profit from being here.  It’s one of the reasons that he’s not taken a salary since he’s been here.  He’s given that salary to charity.  Will not be profiting here,” he had said.

Read: After Corruption Allegations, Trump Says G7 Summit Won't Be At His Resort

Deemed as a marketing and branding opportunity

Critics claimed that the US President was abusing his power for personal gains and amid the impeachment noise, Trump decided to drop the idea of hosting the summit at his resort. Trump has constantly accusing Joe Biden and his family of self-dealing, and choice of venue came under similar scrutiny. Even if there was no profiteering from the summit, the selection of venue was seen as a huge marketing and branding opportunity. Mulvaney said he was aware of the political criticism they would come under but Doral was the “perfect physical location” for the summit. 

Read: Trump Abruptly Backtracks From Holding 2020 G-7 Summit At His Resort

Impeachment probe

Trump is already facing impeachment investigations for pressurizing Ukraine to find dirt on his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. The lawmakers were already probing Trumps’s suggestion to host the meeting at one of his resorts. The latest decision to host the summit at his resort didn’t go down well within the Republican caucus. These reasons have supposedly influenced Trump’s decision to drop the plan.

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