Trump drops plan to host G7 meeting at his Florida resort

U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly dropped plans to host next year's Group of Seven summit at his Florida golf resort.

Democrats and others had decried the selection as evidence of the president misusing his office for personal gain.

Late on Saturday the president tweeted "I thought I was doing something good for our country by using Trump National Doral in Miami," touting its size and location, but said that due to "Media & Democrat Crazed and Irrational Hostility," he'd scrapped plans to use the site.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MICK MULVANEY, SAYING (THURSDAY):

"Is the president going to profit from this? I think the President has pretty much made it clear since he's got here that he doesn't profit from being here."

Last week the acting White House Chief of Staff announced the Trump golf resort had been selected to host world leaders at the G7 summit.

That immediately provoked a backlash from Democrats and government watchdogs.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DAN KILDEE, SAYING: (FRIDAY)

"It's not okay, it is simply not okay for any federal official, president included, to use their own business for government activity and to enrich themselves by it."

The White House initially said the golf course would not turn a profit on the event, but that did not convince Michigan Democratic Representative Dan Kildee.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE DAN KILDEE, SAYING: (FRIDAY)

"Now, the argument is it's not going to make a profit, he is doing it at cost. Give me a break, give me a break. That is just pure insanity. If he were a local government official, he would be in prison for doing that."

[FLASH]

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JIM JORDAN, SAYING: (FRIDAY)

"I don't care where it is at, as long as there are good and productive things happen there."

Some Republicans such as Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, dismissed questions from reporters about whether it was appropriate for the president to use his own property for government business.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) EXCHANGE BETWEEN REPORTER AND U.S. REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JIM JORDAN, SAYING: (FRIDAY)

REPORTER: "The president could financially benefit from it though."

JORDAN: "I think the American people are much more concerned what- much more concerned about not where it happens but what happens at the summit."

The Republican president faces a number of congressional investigations over his finances and potential conflicts of interest stemming from his real estate business, which he still owns.

The U.S. constitution prohibits government officials from receiving payment from foreign and domestic governments without congressional approval.

Watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said on Saturday the initial decision to award the event to a Trump property was "stunningly corrupt" but the "reversal shows that pressure works."