President Donald Trump said Monday that he is “possibly” looking at hosting the next G7 summit at his Trump National Doral Miami Golf Resort.
The US is next up to host the G7 in 2020. Trump said while he hasn’t made a final decision on where to host the summit, officials “haven’t found anything that’s even close to competing with it.”
Trump was meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the G7 in Biarritz, France, as he highlighted the pros of hosting the summit at his club, saying that it could “handle whatever happens” and repeated several times that it is a short drive to Miami’s international airport.
Trump is sure to receive criticism if he goes through with the idea and will face questions about whether he stands to profit financially from the large summit. Trump has received such criticism in the past for hosting foreign leaders, including China’s President Xi Jinping, at his Mar-a-Lago Golf Club in Florida.
At a news conference later Monday, Trump defended the possibility of hosting the next G7 summit at the golf club and claimed he will not make any money from hosting, adding, “It’s not about me, it’s about getting the right location.”
Trump told reporters he “couldn’t care less” about making money. “The only thing I care about is this country,” Trump added.
Trump said that the administration has looked at 12 different sites for the summit, but said his Doral-Miami club is the best choice in terms of location and infrastructure.
“My people wanted it,” Trump said about the club, adding, “I’m not going to make any money.”
Trump also stressed that the large club and resort could easily accommodate the large presence of G7 leaders, delegations and press.
When asked by reporters during his appearance with Merkel earlier Monday whether he will have any “surprise guests” at his summit, a reference to French President Emmanuel Macron inviting Iran’s Foreign Minister Zariff to this G7, Trump said “no.” Trump did compliment his French counterpart for a successful G7.
The Washington Post first reported in June that Trump was looking at hosting the next G7 at his Doral club.
