WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Saturday that he would no longer be holding next year’s Group of 7 summit at his luxury golf club near Miami, citing what he said was “irrational” criticism that the choice would enrich his family business.
“I thought I was doing something very good for our country by using Trump National Doral, in Miami, for hosting the G-7 leaders,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday, before again promoting the resort’s amenities. “But, as usual, the hostile media & Democrat partners went CRAZY!”
Mr. Trump added: “Therefore, based on both Media & Democrat Crazed and Irrational Hostility, we will no longer consider Trump National Doral, Miami, as the Host Site for the G-7 in 2020.”
Mr. Trump also said that White House officials would begin searching for another site, adding that Camp David, where the United States last hosted the meeting, would be a possibility.
Mr. Trump came under heavy criticism for essentially awarding himself a contract for a major diplomatic event, and drew the ire of ethics lawyers and Democrats who said the choice could violate the emoluments clause of the Constitution, which forbids accepting gifts and funding from foreign governments.