Photo: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images President Trump’s supporters have responded to his ongoing fire-hose stream of moral and criminal offenses in three basic ways: pretending it doesn’t exist, whataboutism, and outright support. Until now, Trump’s habit of using his office for personal profit has generally inspired response No. 1, pretending it doesn’t exist.
To be sure, the summit was always going to be held in the president’s home country. But Marcus discerns a particular advantage in situating it at a property he personally owns. “To be able to scuff the table with the heel of your shoe while sitting back relaxed? That’s a hell of a thing,” admired Marcus. “To be able to point to everything and say, That’s mine.”
Marcus notes at the end that, to be sure, Trump must make sure the summit does not profit him personally. “Now look, does it have to be absolutely clear that the G7 doesn’t profit Trump? Yes, of course,” he concedes. “Make sure that it is all done at cost. There is no doubt that Democrats will be on top of this like granola on yogurt. But assuming those ducks line up? Come on, this is great.”
None of these questions have been answered. Even if they were, and even if Trump somehow allowed some transparency to ensure his promises were followed, it’s hard to nail down what it means to avoid a profit. The event is being held in the off-season, when the marginal cost of filling empty rooms is low. Trump has already used his office to give the facility millions of dollars worth of free publicity, most recently in an infomercial for its amenities. “There’s almost 900 acres there.
'But now the Federalist, a site that (as its stuffy name implies) once aspired to intellectual respectability but has defined itself as the Trumpiest of Trumpsites' I do read some of you folks BlueBoxDave , TomRtweets , RyanGirdusky and that is total BS.
it's actually very simple, a-holes. Compare how much it costs against Obama G7 summit at Camp David. If it's cheaper, it's great and you simply express your TDS. If it's more expensive, then there is an issue. But that's not how you look at it, eh?
It’s not going to happen! But if it does, be assured it will be G8 and Trump will give Putin a massage with a happy ending.
New York Magazine