This archive report was first published on 18 October 2019.
On October 17, 2019, the White House announced that the Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami would host the 2020 G7 summit, sparking widespread criticism of President Donald Trump's decision.
The decision was made by Trump himself, with acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney stating that the club was 'the best place' among a dozen US venues considered for the event.
However, the move has been met with fierce opposition from Democrats and ethics campaigners, who claim that it is a clear example of Trump's corruption and abuse of power.
'He is exploiting his office and making official US government decisions for his personal financial gain,' said Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Trump's decision has also been criticized by Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, who stated that 'the president is now officially using the power of his office to help prop up his struggling golf business.'
Walter Shaub, a former director of the Office of Government Ethics, also weighed in on the decision, stating that it was 'so overtly corrupt' that it could not be viewed as anything other than a loyalty test for senators.
When asked if Trump was aware that the decision would raise accusations of impropriety, Mulvaney stated that he was, and had decided to go ahead anyway.
