U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Friday that he will host the 2026 Group of 20 (G20) summit at his Trump National Doral Miami golf club, close to Miami, after deciding against this year's edition in South Africa.
"I think Doral will be the best place," Mr. Trump said to reporters during an announcement in the Oval Office.
The G20, with 19 member countries, the European Union, and the African Union, has members take turns hosting and concentrating on economic policy. There is no set date announced for the 2026 summit.
By selecting his own real estate for a U.S. taxpayer event projected to bring in millions of dollars in hotel and restaurant traffic, Mr. Trump may reignite questions regarding making a profit from his elected role.
A White House spokesperson said Doral will charge attendees at cost only for services rendered. The administration has dismissed any accusations of conflict of interest, explaining that the president's properties are controlled by a third party.
Vice President J.D. Vance will be representing America at this year's G20 summit in South Africa, Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump canceled plans to host the 2020 Group of 7 summit at Doral in his first term following warnings by Democrats, Republicans, and ethics experts that it would breach the U.S. Constitution.
Trump's business interests
Since resuming office in January, Mr. Trump has effectively brushed aside ethical objections to the intersection of his business activities and governmental responsibilities, along with the influence attempted by deep-pocketed donors, investors, and foreign nations.
His investment portfolio consists of meme coins and crypto tokens, as well as licensing deals on Trump-branded products like bibles, watches, and sneakers—enterprises that, according to reports, made hundreds of millions of theoretical riches in a matter of months. He has welcomed foreign leaders and business leaders to several of his properties, including Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and golf clubs in the Washington region, Bedminster, New Jersey, and Scotland.
The Doral club itself provides clubhouse, pool, restaurants, spa, and about 100,000 square feet (9,300 square meters) of event space, including the Donald J. Trump Grand Ballroom, on its official website.
Prior to Mr. Trump returning to office, the State Department invited proposals from U.S. cities that were willing to host the G20 summit, putting the meetings at an estimate in early to mid-October 2026. It is not known if Doral or neighboring city Miami had put in propositions.
In July, Mr. Trump threatened to boycott this year's G20 summit in November because of tensions between the US and South Africa, which is hosting, over Pretoria's land policies and Israel stance. The roster of leaders invited to his 2026 summit has not yet been finalized.
The G20 comprises key world players like China and Russia, with Russian President Vladimir Putin in receipt of a war-crime arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
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