The White House defended its decision to host the 2020 G-7 Summit at President Trump’s Florida resort, calling it a “significantly cheaper” option for the event’s venue.
On Thursday, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney announced that the Trump National Doral Miami will house next year’s gathering of world leaders, saying the property was the best possible facility and that Trump’s business would not earn a profit.
The administration defended the move on Saturday, insisting the venue is “significantly cheaper” than other options and that the summit will be run “at cost,” meaning without profit, because the emoluments clause of the Constitution prohibits the president from accepting gifts and money from foreign governments.
Thus, “the summit would be significantly cheaper for taxpayers and our foreign guests,” according to White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham. However, she did not elaborate on what will be included in the cost or how the total will be calculated.
Grisham added that the White House is also considering the option of a host committee for the G-7, which would include the possibility of receiving donations to help offset costs, something that was also done in 2004.
The decision has been met with pushback from members of both parties. Illinois GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, pointing to concerns over the emoluments clause, said he’s “not happy with it.” Democrats similarly slammed the move as “corruption, plain and simple.”
