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The Trumps Arrived in Germany for the G20 Summit. It Didn't Go Well.

The president reportedly could not find a hotel room in time, violent protests halt his wife's plans.

The Trumps Arrived in Germany for the G20 Summit. It Didn't Go Well.

President Donald Trump owns hotels around the world, but it appears he can't book a room in Hamburg, Germany.


As world leaders converge for the G20 summit, reports indicate that White House officials waited too long before reserving hotel rooms for Trump and his traveling staff in time for the international conference. Trump failed to find accommodations at the Four Seasons––his first choice––because of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his enormous entourage, which includes camels for fresh milk, and a golden escalator. Salman "booked all 156 guest rooms and suites, along with a number of rooms in the Hotel Renaissance and The Westin in the Elbphilharmonie, a concert hall," according to one report.

Trump's search became more complicated from there:

  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have booked the Atlantic Kempinski.
  • Vietnam's delegation––headed by President Trần Đại Quang––reserved The Hotel Reichshof.
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his entourage claimed The Sofitel.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon have booked The Park Hyatt in its entirety.
  • Prime Minister Theresa May of the UK and two other delegations have already reserved Le Meridien.

Weeks before the summit, reports suggested Trump might seek accomodations in Berlin, 180 miles away, and commute to Hamburg via helicopter. That plan also collapsed––and vacancies don't appear to be the issue. A spokesperson for the Berlin InterContinental who spoke to German newspaper Die Welt noted that the hotel typically doesn't comment on its guests, “But in this case, we say clearly: No, he does not stay with us.”

With the summit fast approaching, the city of Hamburg stepped in to remedy the situation, allowing the president to stay in the Senate guesthouse. Although officials would neither confirm nor deny details (only saying that "a summit delegation" is being accommodated), The Associated Press reports that the estate will host Trump and that the U.S. Consulate General in Hamburg will prepare to host Trump's staff.

First Lady Melania Trump also ran into some trouble. Although she was able to find a hotel room––she chose to stay elsewhere––security concerns stemming from ongoing protests outside the G20 summit prevented her from partaking in spouses events that traditionally take place during the gathering. The spouses had been scheduled to take a boat ride, gather for lunch and visit a climate control center with Joachim Sauer, the husband of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

More than 10,000 people have stormed the streets amid President Trump's arrival. Some participants have attacked authorities, and at least 15 Hamburg police officers have sustained injuries in the unrest. German riot police have deployed tear gas, smoke bombs and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. The First Lady later tweeted hopes for everyone's safety.