Offering his private golf course in Florida, Trump backed off the plan due to backlashes and strident criticisms. (Image via DW)

Trump aborts the plan to hold G7 summit at his resort amid criticisms

After proposing a venue for the 2020 Group of Seven (G-7) Summit, the President of United States (U.S), Donald Trump, on late Saturday, backed off his plan to hold the G-7 Summit at his own property, Trump National Doral, a golf resort in Miami, Florida.

Initially in his string of tweets on Sunday, the 45th U.S President stated that he was doing something “really good” for the country by offering his private golf course for the 2020 G-7 Summit for free. According to the emoluments clause in the U.S Constitution, a President should never receive any gift or money from other foreign governments.

Stating its goodness, Trump hailed his golf resort as “better than other alternatives” since it is located near the Miami International Airport, has spacious ballroom and meeting rooms, and each delegation would enjoy its own 50 – 70 units.

However, due to the backlash from the media and his Democrats opposition which he referred to as an “irrational hostility”, Trump erased the plan. Also, he said that the U.S government will be considering Camp David, a government-owned presidential retreat, as the next choice.

On Thursday, the President’s Acting Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, revealed Trump’s plan to use Trump National Doral. Mulvaney said that the Doral golf course is the best physical facility so far after visiting 10 other sites across the U.S.

Considering Camp David, Mulvaney stated that it will be “miserable” to hold the 2020 G-7 Summit there. It was too small and remote for an international event. Besides, Mulvaney said that there were sites in Utah and Hawaii in their shortlist.

The media and Trump’s Democrats opposition went against the plan. One of them is the 2020 presidential contender and former Vice President of the U.S, Joe Biden. Biden said that as President, Trump should not use the chance to use Doral for his personal gain in spite of the tweet that Trump would do it at no cost.

Source: https://bit.ly/2pxRBui