In a move that has reignited debates over presidential ethics, conflicts of interest, and the global role of the United States, President Donald Trump announced on Friday, September 5, 2025, that the 2026 Group of 20 (G20) summit will be held at his family-owned Trump National Doral resort near Miami, Florida. The decision, made public during an Oval Office event attended by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and key administration officials, is already drawing sharp scrutiny and praise in equal measure as the nation prepares to host its first full G20 summit in nearly two decades, coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations.
"It's going to be a very exciting thing to host the G20," Trump declared, according to Fox News, emphasizing the location’s proximity to Miami International Airport and lauding the resort as "the best location" for the two-day event. The summit is scheduled for December 14-15, 2026, right in the heart of Florida’s peak tourist season—a fact not lost on the president. "That’s the biggest month in Florida. You can’t get a room in Florida in December, January, etc., that area. And that’s the time we’re talking about. So from that standpoint, it’s not good. But we want to make sure it’s good," Trump said, as reported by The New York Times.
This isn’t the first time Trump has floated the idea of hosting a major global summit at Doral. In 2019, during his first term, he proposed the resort for the G7 summit but abandoned the plan amid bipartisan criticism and allegations that it would violate the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which restricts presidents from profiting from foreign governments without congressional approval. The 2020 G7 ultimately went virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the ethical questions lingered. The White House again insisted on Friday that Trump Doral would host the G20 "at-cost, and will receive no profit from either the State Department or a foreign government." Trump himself doubled down, stating, "my family business will not make any money on it."
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett will serve as the summit’s lead coordinator, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is tasked with organizing an agenda centered on "unleashing economic prosperity by limiting, eliminating the burdens of regulations, unlocking affordable energy and pioneering new technologies." A White House official revealed that the summit’s theme would be "Growth through Deregulation, Energy Abundance, and Innovation," and that the U.S. would take a "back-to-basics approach," streamlining both the guest list and the summit’s workstreams to align with the G20’s original focus on economic growth and financial stability.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who was present for the announcement, welcomed the decision, highlighting the potential economic windfall for the city’s small businesses. "It puts us on the global map," Suarez said, according to Fox News, noting that "it’s going to bring in millions and millions of dollars." The Doral resort, purchased by Trump in 2012 for $150 million, boasts four golf courses, a 48,000-square-foot spa, a 125-foot pool slide, and a 24,000-square-foot ballroom—amenities that have made it a popular venue for high-profile gatherings.
The G20, an economic forum comprising 19 countries plus the European Union and African Union, represents around 85% of global gross domestic product and more than 75% of global trade, according to the group’s official website. Locations for the annual summit rotate among member nations; this year’s meeting is set for November in South Africa. However, Trump has signaled he will not attend, citing disagreements with the South African government over its treatment of White farmers. Instead, Vice President JD Vance will represent the United States at the Johannesburg summit, a decision confirmed by both Trump and White House officials.
Host nations may also invite other countries as observers, and Trump has already extended an invitation to Poland’s newly elected president, Karol Nawrocki, who visited the White House earlier in the week. The U.S. expects a smaller guest list for the Miami summit than in recent years, reflecting a deliberate effort to "streamline the summit and related workstreams," as an administration official told Bloomberg.
The announcement comes at a time when Trump’s use of his presidency to promote and monetize his brand is under renewed scrutiny. According to The New York Times, since his return to office, Trump and his family have collected $320 million in fees from a new cryptocurrency, brokered overseas real estate deals worth billions, and opened an exclusive Washington club called the Executive Branch, charging $500,000 for membership. Additionally, the president has used his clemency powers to reward allies and punish adversaries—a pattern that critics say reflects a broader blurring of public and private interests.
Despite these concerns, the response from Trump’s own party has been notably muted compared to the uproar that followed the 2019 G7 proposal. Observers suggest this reflects Trump’s successful efforts to consolidate his influence over the Republican Party and reshape its internal dynamics since his 2020 defeat. "Everybody wants it there," Trump insisted on Friday, though he did not specify who had lobbied for the Doral location. He also dismissed lingering criticism as "irrational hostility," echoing language he used during his first term.
For supporters, hosting the G20 at Doral is a chance to showcase American hospitality and economic leadership on the world stage, especially as the nation marks its semiquincentennial. The summit will be one of several high-profile international events in 2026, underscoring the U.S.’s ongoing role as a global convenor. For critics, however, the event is yet another example of the president’s willingness to blur the lines between personal gain and the public good, raising questions about precedent, accountability, and the future of presidential ethics.
The last time the U.S. hosted a full G20 summit was in 2009 in Pittsburgh under President Obama. Since then, the global landscape—and the American presidency—have changed dramatically. As the world’s eyes turn to Miami in December 2026, the Doral summit will serve as a litmus test not only for international cooperation, but for the evolving standards of conduct in the highest office of the land.
With preparations underway, the stakes—for the U.S. presidency, the global economy, and the Trump brand—have rarely been higher.
