This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
Published on October 20, 2019, President Trump's decision to host the G7 summit at his Doral resort in Florida has sparked widespread criticism from both sides of the aisle.
Lawyers who have served in both Republican and Democratic administrations have expressed their disapproval of the move, citing the appearance of impropriety and self-enrichment.
‘It stinks,’ said Charles Fried, a Harvard law professor who served as solicitor general under President Ronald Reagan. ‘It is so completely blatant.’
Some Republicans in Congress have also questioned Mr. Trump’s decision, with Representative Francis Rooney stating, ‘In the law, there’s a canon that says, avoid the appearance of impropriety. I think that would be better if he would not use his hotel for this kind of stuff.’
Former White House officials have expressed shock at the president’s decision, suggesting that it poses immediate ethical concerns for the world leaders invited to the summit.
The president’s reversal adds another twist to a process that appeared to flout longstanding State Department guidelines for vetting diplomatic event venues.
