https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-ambassador-scotland-trump-resort-host-british-open-nyt-2020-7 In 2018,Trump asked US ambassador to the UK to request the British Open be held at a Trump resort in Scotland Robert Wood "Woody" Johnson IV, the US ambassador to the United Kingdom, reportedly asked David Mundell, the secretary of state for Scotland, if Trump's Turnberry resort could host the golf tournament. The ambassador's deputy, Lewis Lukens, who previously served as the acting US ambassador to the UK prior to Johnson, reportedly warned Johnson not to make the request as it would be a conflict of interest and unethical use of political power for the president's personal company to host the event Lukens, concerned about the request, emailed State Department officials in light of the alleged conversation between Johnson and Mundell, The White House declined to comment on the report. The president is barred from requesting to host such events at resorts operated by the Trump Organization due to a federal conflict-of-interest law known as the Constitution's emoluments clauses. In the case of the British Open, the British and Scottish governments would likely have to pay security and hosting costs, which would ultimately benefit Trump. The emolument clause also came to light in a separate incident last year after Trump planned to host the Group of 7 summit at his Miami Doral resort in Florida, but the plan was dismissed amid backlash for the controversial decision.
