President Donald Trump was “surprised” by the harsh pushback over his initial decision to host the G-7 conference at his Trump National Doral Miami resort, but it’s the “right decision” to change the location, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said Sunday.
“The president isn't one for holding back his feelings and his emotions about something,” Mulvaney told Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.” “He was honestly surprised by the level of pushback.”
Trump had faced a steady stream of criticism, including from fellow Republicans, over concerns that he would profit financially from the conference, scheduled for next June 10-12.
Saturday night, the president reversed course, tweeting that “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.”
On Sunday, Mulvaney said he believes it's now "the right decision to change,” locations.
But he added Trump' “still considers himself to be in the hospitality business” and he saw an opportunity to “put on the absolute best show, the best visit he possibly could” for world leaders.
“He’s the president of the United States,” Wallace interjected.
“It’s his background. It’s like how I used to be in the real estate business,” Mulvaney answered.
Asked if Trump understood that hosting the conference at Doral “looked lousy,” Mulvaney hedged. “I think he knows that people think it looked lousy.”
“Could we have put on an excellent G-7 at Doral?” Mulvaney said. “Absolutely. Will we end up putting on an excellent G-7 someplace else? Yes, we will.”
Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine
