President Trump Says Next G7 Summit Will Likely Be In Doral
MIAMI (CBSMiami/CNN) - President Donald Trump said Monday that his private golf resort in Doral is the likely venue for next year's Group of Seven summit when it's the United States' turn to host the annual gathering.
He said a final decision, however, has not been made.
When meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the G7 in Biarritz, France, Trump highlighted the pros of hosting the summit at his Trump National Doral Miami Golf Resort, saying that it could "handle whatever happens" and repeated several times that it is a short drive to Miami's international airport.
@Cityofdoral has been announced as next year's location for the #G7Summit . #Doral is ready to shine as the host city and show the entire world why we're one of the top cities in the country as voted on last year by @MONEY Magazine and a thriving economic engine in South Florida. https://t.co/OZf3tfgDzX
— City of Doral (@Cityofdoral) August 26, 2019
Trump also stressed that the large club and resort could easily accommodate the large presence of G7 leaders, delegations and press.
Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez is looking forward to it.
"I think it is a golden opportunity for Doral and Miami-Dade County to shine," said Bermudez. "We are better prepared than other cities."
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.
"I am not going to be making money," said President Trump. "In my opinion, I am not going to make money."
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.
When asked by reporters 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.
(©2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company, contributed to this report.)
