Trump Swings at 'Phony' Constitutional Clause

The emoluments clause has dogged President Trump since, quite literally, his first full weekday in office, and proved the undoing of his now-reversed decision to hold the 2020 G7 summit at his Doral resort in Miami. That hasn't left him a big fan of the Constitutional clause, which forbids the president from receiving any personal benefits from foreign governments without the consent of Congress. When asked about the canceled plans by reporters during a Monday Cabinet meeting that the Los Angeles Times described as "71 minutes of Trump grievances," he responded, "You people with this phony emoluments clause." More:

• CNBC reports he also suggested that Barack Obama—and George Washington—profited off business deals while in office. "Obama made a deal for a book. Is that running a business?" Trump said, sarcastically tacking on, "I'm sure he didn't even discuss it while he was president. Yeah." As for Obama's Netflix deal, "When did they start talking about that?" he added. And in terms of Washington: "They say had two desks. He had a presidential desk and a business desk."

• Politico reports Trump defended the Doral plan by saying it would have been a money saver for taxpayers, because he "would have done it for free." And he doesn't need the promotion. "You don’t think I get enough promotion? I get more promotion than every human being that has ever lived. I don't need promotion. It would have been the greatest G7 ever."
• The Guardian flagged a tweet from Washington Post reporter Toluse Olorunnipa who noted Trump also talked about the Miami Airport being one of the world's biggest airports. "Some people say it's the biggest," he quoted Trump as saying, before pointing out it does not rank in the top 20.

(More President Trump stories.)