If there was any doubt that Donald Trump would once again ignore the Constitution’s emoluments clause by locating the next G-7 summit — which will be hosted by the United States next year — at his Trump National Doral Miami golf resort, the president put it to rest today with an official announcement via the White House Twitter account.
The release of footage of Trump’s sales pitch for his money-losing Miami property as the perfect location for the summit which he gave to reporters at this year’s site of the G-7 in Biarritz, France was accompanied by language that made his suggestion an official confirmation of the idea.
President @realDonaldTrump shares the location of the next @G7 summit, hosted by the United States! pic.twitter.com/CMtHG2Dump
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 26, 2019
While the U.S. Constitution clearly prohibits the president or any other federal officeholders from profiting from foreign governments, canny world leaders — knowing that the best way to remain in Trump’s good graces is to funnel money into his businesses — have made it a regular practice to spend lavishly at Trump-branded properties with their money going straight into the Trump Organization’s coffers.
While other presidents either divested themselves of businesses that could pose a conflict of interest or placed them in blind trusts, Trump has refused to do so, leading to lawsuits from ethics organizations and Democrats in Congress.
When President Trump refused to divest from his business, we warned that he could start using the presidency—and American foreign policy—as a way to make money for his business. People thought we were exaggerating.
We weren't. https://t.co/NXvxTe1QY8
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) August 26, 2019
Of course, Donald Trump never met an emoluments clause that he didn’t completely ignore.
This is a clear violation of the emoluments clause if he accepts any money from foreign governments for anything at the resorts.
Trump says US may host next G7 at Trump National Doral Golf Resort – CNNPolitics https://t.co/vuns0colog
— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) August 26, 2019
Now, Trump is readying what may be his biggest violation of the emoluments clause yet, by planning on hosting the next G-7 summit — or G-8, if he succeeds in his fervent desire to ignore the wishes of the other six members of the group and invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the next series of meetings — at his failing Trump National Doral Miami golf resort.
With revenue at that particular property having plummeted 69% since Trump took office, the president came up with what he obviously thought was a brilliant idea to raise the financial outlook for his Miami resort. If only the whole scheme wasn’t so patently illegal.
This would violate the Emoluments Clause. Whatever happened to the strict constitutionalists of the GOP and the conservative movement? https://t.co/TwQKOKQAoU
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) August 26, 2019
Trump's lawyers keep asserting that it's speculative and offensive to think he's motivated to profit from his office.
But Trump himself keeps proving them wrong.
The signal he's sending to foreign officials about where to spend money, and how to win his favor, is very clear. https://t.co/tk6JiiI2UL
— Joshua Matz (@JoshuaMatz8) August 26, 2019
Trump gave reporters his sales spiel for his property during the current G-7 summit in Biarritz, France this weekend.
“They love the location of the hotel,” portraying its noisy proximity to the airport as a positive. “We haven’t found anything that’s even close to competing with it. Really you can be there in a matter of minutes after you land.”