Trump golf club in Florida to host next G7 summit: W. House

• US venues for the June 10-12 gathering next year is the Trump National Doral Golf Club, in Miami.
• Democrats are investigating Trump for possible impeachment over his alleged bid to pressure Ukraine into digging up dirt on election rival Joe Biden.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has awarded hosting of the next G7 summit to one of his own Florida golf clubs, the White House said on Thursday, sparking immediate accusations of corruption from the opposition Democrats.

The site picked by his administration from 12 possible US venues for the June 10-12 gathering next year is the Trump National Doral Golf Club, in Miami.

"We absolutely believe this is the best place to have it," acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told a news conference at the White House.

Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the powerful Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee called the decision "among the most brazen examples yet of the president's corruption."

"He is exploiting his office and making official US government decisions for his personal financial gain," Nadler said in a statement vowing that Trump's "latest abuse of power" would not distract from investigations into the Ukraine scandal engulfing the presidency.

Democrats are investigating Trump for possible impeachment over his alleged bid to pressure Ukraine into digging up dirt on election rival Joe Biden.

They were already probing Trump's suggestion at the most recent G7 gathering in France in August that the next could be hosted at one of his resorts which they say would violate both the foreign and domestic emoluments clauses that are designed to shield a commander in chief from outside influence.

Asked if Trump was aware the choice of venue would inevitably raise accusations of impropriety, Mulvaney said he was -- and had decided to go ahead anyway.