Trump Dismisses ‘Phony Emoluments Clause,’ Defending Doral

WASHINGTON — President Trump may have reversed his decision to host world leaders at one of his own properties during next year’s Group of 7 summit at the urging of his fellow Republicans,but he hasn’t finished defending his right to do it in the first place.

Mr. Trump on Monday dismissed what he called the “phony emoluments clause” of the Constitution that prohibits a president from illegally profiting from his business while in office and was cited by critics of his choice of Trump National Doral Miami for the summit. He also accused President Barack Obama of trying to profit off the presidency.

“Doral was a very simple situation,” the president told reporters at the White House. “I own a property in Florida. I was going to do it at no cost or give it free if I got a ruling, because there is a question as to whether or not you’re allowed to give it, because it’s like a contribution to a country.”

Mr. Trump said Democrats had gone “crazy” over the prospect of hosting an international summit at a Trump property, when in fact it was private criticism from Republicans that ultimately forced his rare reversal. And he continued to talk up the resort, with its “massive meeting rooms” and “best location” and said that “it would have been the greatest G-7 ever.”

Source: The New York Times

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