Trump takes a break from world affairs to tee-up his Scottish golf programs

[ad_1] James Cook dinner Scotland editor

As Donald Trump heads to Scotland, what to anticipate from his go to

Donald Trump flies into Scotland later to go to two golf resorts which he owns within the nation the place his mom was born.

He'll journey to Turnberry in South Ayrshire, a world class venue he purchased in 2014, and to Menie in Aberdeenshire to open a brand new 18-hole course.

The White Home says Trump may even meet prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to debate commerce whereas he's within the UK.

The journey is phenomenal as US presidents hardly ever promote their private pursuits so publicly whereas in workplace.

It's not the primary time that Trump has been accused of conflating his personal affairs with the nation's.

Even so, with Gaza and Ukraine in flames, the greenback on the slide, and questions mounting about his ties to convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, Trump's determination to deal with golf has raised eyebrows.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d8c6/live/c9e9d2a0-6897-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters A photo of Donald trump on stage in Las Vegas in 2015. He is wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and a red tie. In the background is an American flag" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters In Las Vegas a decade in the past Trump was eager to advertise his Scottish golf programs

I witnessed Trump's unconventional angle first hand, proper firstly of his political profession, once I met him on the marketing campaign path in 2015 because the Republicans looked for a candidate who may win again the presidency after Barack Obama's two phrases in workplace.

Trump strode off the controversy stage in a glitzy Las Vegas lodge and right into a room full of cameras.

Jostling for place, I requested the person with the lengthy crimson tie a few questions and, after boasting about his standing as frontrunner within the race, he instructed me he had a message for the UK.

This can make information, I believed. Perhaps one thing about immigration, Trump's signature marketing campaign subject?

It was not. As a substitute Trump needed BBC viewers to know that he had some nice golf programs on Scotland's shores which they need to go to.

The reply struck me as exceptional for a person aspiring to grow to be the so-called chief of the free world.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1229/live/5f265cc0-6899-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A sepia image of Mary An MacLeod from 1932. She is 20 years old and lounging on the steps of a house. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photographs Donald Trump's mom, Mary Anne MacLeod, grew up on the Isle of Lewis earlier than emigrating to America

After all Trump does have a real hyperlink to Scotland.

His Gaelic-speaking mom, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in 1912 on the island of Lewis in Scotland's Outer Hebrides and left throughout the Nice Despair for New York the place she married property developer Fred Trump.

Their son's return to Scotland for 4 days this summer season comes forward of an official state go to in September when the president and First Girl Melania Trump can be hosted by King Charles at Windsor Fortress in Berkshire.

Trump is just not scheduled to see the King on this go to however it isn't fully personal both, as he'll meet Scotland's First Minister John Swinney in addition to the prime minister.

Enterprise leaders, together with Scotch whisky producers, are urging Starmer and Swinney to make use of their conferences with Trump to foyer for a discount in US taxes on imports, often called tariffs.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/44e0/live/555143c0-68af-11f0-af20-030418be2ca5.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="A map of Scotland showing Menie in the north east and Turnberry in the south" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> An enormous safety operation, which has been below approach for weeks, has been scaled up in latest days.

Big transport plane carrying army {hardware}, together with the president's helicopters, identified when he's on board by the decision signal Marine One, have been noticed at Aberdeen and Prestwick airports.

Roads and lanes in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire have been secured and closed.

Airspace restrictions have been issued.

Police reinforcements have been heading north throughout the England-Scotland border.

Visits to Scotland by sitting US presidents are uncommon.

Queen Elizabeth hosted Dwight D Eisenhower at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire in 1957; George W Bush travelled to Gleneagles in Perthshire for a G8 summit in 2005; and Joe Biden attended a local weather convention in Glasgow in 2021.

The one different serving president to go to this century is Trump himself in 2018 when he was met by protesters together with one flying a paraglider low over Turnberry, breaching the air exclusion zone across the resort.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/db98/live/af6d85b0-689d-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="PA A photo of Trump at Turnberry in 2023. He is standing with his arms outstretched, holding a golf putter. He is wearing one white glove. He has a blue fleecy sweater on and a red MAGA hat. The background is the green of the golf course. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> PA Trump's journey to Scotland is just not an official state go to

Even by the requirements of Donald Trump the years since have been wild.

When he misplaced the 2020 election to Joe Biden, a mob of Trump supporters responded to their chief's false claims of electoral fraud by mounting a violent assault on the US Capitol.

4 years later Trump staged a shocking political comeback and since returning to the White Home he has survived at the least one assassination try whereas a person has been charged with one other.

Amid this turmoil, safety surrounding Trump is supposedly tighter than ever.

The US Secret Service, a lot criticised for failures which almost value the president his life, stays primarily chargeable for his security however considerations have been raised in regards to the affect of his go to on Police Scotland's officers and funds, with one former senior officer estimating the policing value at greater than £5m.

Including to the stress which the police are below to safe his resorts, massive anti-Trump demonstrations are anticipated to be held in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Police Scotland insists it has the sources it must take care of the go to.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/bab0/live/15bd1190-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A photo of a protest in Edinburgh in 2018. There are hundreds of people milling around but the photo is dominated by a huge inflatable baby Donald Trump wearing a nappy" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photographs Trump's final go to as president sparked protests throughout the nation

Whereas polls counsel Trump is deeply unpopular within the UK, he may very well discover some sympathy in Aberdeen, a metropolis which he and lots of others name "the oil capital of Europe".

He has stirred the heated debate in regards to the nature and tempo of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable power, telling BBC Information final week that Aberdeen, which has prospered for many years from North Sea drilling, "ought to eliminate the windmills and convey again the oil."

The environmental marketing campaign group Uplift says Trump's declare that the North Sea can nonetheless present the UK with a safe power provide "runs counter to actuality."

Trump's pro-oil message echoes the rhetoric of Reform UK, the right-wing celebration led by Trump fan Nigel Farage which made progress in a latest Scottish by-election and hopes to go one step additional by profitable seats for the primary time in subsequent yr's Scottish parliamentary election.

The Scottish Parliament, often called Holyrood after its location on the foot of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, runs a lot of Scotland's home affairs, akin to well being, schooling and a few taxation and advantages, whereas the UK parliament in London retains management of defence, overseas affairs and wider financial coverage.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c463/live/cde7faf0-689a-11f0-b5e0-83f7c45d2898.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A photo of Turnberry from 2018 when Trump visited as president. In the distance you can see the red roof of the famous hotel. In the middle distance are golf buggies. We assume Trump is in one of them. In the foreground dunes are dozens of police wearing yellow jackets." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photographs Safety and police groups surrounded the perimeter of Turnberry as Donald Trump performed golf on his final go to as president in July 2018

Trump's assist for the oil business is well-known however his hatred of wind generators seems to run even deeper.

In 2012 he instructed me that constructing a wind farm off the coast of his golf course at Menie could be a "horrible error" that might "destroy Scotland."

The encounter was a wierd expertise.

At first, Trump's aides instructed us he was so affronted by the troublesome questions he had been requested by Rona Dougall of STV Information earlier that morning that he had modified his thoughts about talking to the BBC.

We waited anyway within the rain, for hours. Ultimately the person himself emerged. After some verbal sparring he provided us burgers from a barbecue earlier than backing down and agreeing to be interviewed.

Later, requested by a committee of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh to offer proof to again up his declare that Scottish tourism could be ruined by wind generators, Trump famously replied: "I'm the proof."

The wind farm was constructed anyway and is now clearly seen from the course.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a4f8/live/34d633a0-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A photo from 2010 of Donald Trump in the sand dune at Menie holding a golf club. He is flanked by two bagpipers in full Scottish regalia, kilt, sporran and feathered hat" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photographs Donald Trump poses with Scottish pipers throughout a go to to the development website of his golf course on the Menie Property in 2010

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b3e4/live/9d102d90-689e-11f0-9f22-b51d9ce822ea.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images A photo from 2012 of Donald Trump outside the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh. Behind a barrier are protesters and some people who appear to want to shake his hand. Police and photographers are behind Trump as he talks at the crowd with his hand raised and his finger pointed. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photographs Trump appeared on the Scottish Parliament in 2012 to complain about wind generators close to his golf course

It's not the one battle Trump has fought in opposition to a backdrop of shifting sand dunes and whispering grasses at Menie the place he has repeatedly clashed with native residents, politicians and environmentalists for quite a lot of causes.

His different course at Turnberry is just not controversial itself however it's the stage for a tussle with {the golfing} authorities as a result of Trump seems to be infuriated by the refusal of the sport's governing physique, the R&A, to stage the distinguished Open Championship there, citing logistical challenges.

Turnberry is dwelling to a few golf programs, stated to be the most costly to play within the UK, and the Open has been held there 4 instances however by no means since Trump bought it in 2014.

It's one other placing instance of how, a decade after mounting what was basically a hostile takeover of the US Republican Social gathering, the person who has been each the forty fifth and forty seventh president of the US has nonetheless not fully swapped enterprise for politics.

He's essentially the most highly effective man within the Western world and but Donald Trump continues to be irked at being snubbed, nonetheless hankering for standing, nonetheless offended a couple of {golfing} deal he has, to this point at the least, failed to shut.