Throughout his weekend with world leaders at the G7 Summit in Paris, President Donald Trump kept looking ahead to when the United States hosts the summit in Florida next year. And his suggestion for the locale he thinks should host the summit was quite literally on brand.
Trump suggested multiple times that the summit, which costs hundreds of millions of dollars to put on, be held at his Trump National Doral Miami resort, citing the resort's luxurious rooms and proximity to the Miami airport.
Trump vouched for the resort while meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
And elaborated on the pitch while taking questions from the press, insisting that he wouldn't make any money from the event being held on his own property.
Trump said:
"In my opinion, I'm not gonna make any money. I don't want to make money. I don't care about making money...I think it's just a great place to be."
Soon, even the White House's official Twitter account shared video of Trump pitching the venue.
The naked advertising for the president's personal brand was concerning to many, especially considering how many world leaders would be attending the event.
What's more, Doral is struggling.
A representative for the resort last year made the case to Miami officials to lower its taxes on the resort, stating:
“They are severely underperforming...There is some negative connotation that is associated with the brand.”
The venue has also grappled with roach and bed bug infestations as recently as last year.
With the resort performing so poorly, a conference of world leaders would provide a much-needed economic boost to Doral.
Many claim that holding the event would be a blatant abuse of the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits a sitting president from using the office for personal profit.
He literally has no shame.
