Security tightens as Donald Trump plays golf at Scotland
A major security operation has ramped up as Donald Trump played golf on the first day of his private visit to Scotland.
The US president teed off at his luxury resort Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire at about 10:00, having arrived at Prestwick Airport on Friday evening.
The day passed without incident, while hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Aberdeen and Edinburgh to protest against the visit.
Trump is due to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney over the next few days, as well as opening a second 18-hole course at his estate in Aberdeenshire.
The president said it was “great to be in Scotland” and has praised the leaders of both governments.
Questions have already been raised about the scale of the visit and the security implications, with police representatives raising concerns about the costs involved and the impact on staffing.
Meanwhile members of the public showed their frustrations towards the president’s politics, including his views on climate change and his position on the conflict between Israel and Gaza, at the protests in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Many protesters carried signs referring to an expletive slogan made infamous by the late comedian Janey Godley in 2018.
Anita Bhadani was among those who helped organise the Stop Trump Coalition protest outside the US Consulate General’s office in Edinburgh.
She said: “We are really excited, across this whole weekend, there’s so many campaign groups turning out in the streets, taking in action in their communities or at rallies like this. It’s kind of like a carnival of resistance.”
At the Aberdeen rally, protester Nicola Seal said: “We shouldn’t be hosting him. It’s costing vast amounts of taxpayers’ money, sucking enormous amounts of police resource.”
Journalists, photographers and plane watchers were among the crowds who gathered to see Air Force One touch down at Prestwick just before 20:30 on Friday.
Trump was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Warren Stephens, US Ambassador to the UK.
The president spoke with journalists before a motorcade made up of more than two dozen vehicles escorted him to Turnberry.
A number of roads have been closed in the area and police and military personnel have carried out sweeps around the resort.
A security checkpoint has been put in place outside the hotel and a large fence has been erected around the course – although some golfers were able to use the Ailsa course from 07:30.
Trump played his round of golf with his son Eric, as well as US Ambassador Warren Stephens and his son. Their entourage included 15 other golf buggies.
A round during peak summer season can cost £1,000 at Turnberry.
There were no sign of any protesters around the course.
Trump waved to photographers who had gathered on a beach dune for a vantage point as he walked to the fourth tee.
The White House said that his son Donald Trump Jr was also accompanying him for the weekend.
Trump’s round coincided with an announcement by the Scottish government that £180,000 of public funding will support a tournament being held at his Aberdeenshire course next month.
The 2025 Nexo Championship on the DP World Tour is taking place at Trump International Golf Links from 7-10 August.
John Swinney said the cash boost showed the government “recognises the importance and benefits” of golf in the country.
He added: “As the home of golf, we have a long-standing track record of support and I am proud this funding will further enhance Aberdeenshire’s reputation as a leading golfing destination and I am hopeful of securing further golfing events in future years.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie likened the awarding of public cash to the tournament to “handing some pocket money to the school bully”.
Trump is expected to meet Swinney on Monday, the same day he will see Starmer.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will meet the president on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations.
The US president will travel back to Washington on Tuesday and is due to return to the UK for an official state visit in September.
In his remarks to the press at Prestwick, Trump said European countries need to “get your act together” on migration, and “stop the windmills”, referring to wind farms.
Trump argued that the project, which included 11 wind turbines, would spoil the view from his golf course at Menie.
Swinney has said his meeting with Trump would present an opportunity to “essentially speak out for Scotland” on issues such as trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland.
The first minister said he would also raise “significant international issues” including “the awfulness of the situation in Gaza”.
He urged those set to protest against the president’s visit to do so “peacefully and to do so within the law”.
Visits to Scotland by sitting US presidents are rare.
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 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021.
The only other serving president to visit this century is Trump himself in 2018 when he was met by protesters including one flying a paraglider low over Turnberry, breaching the air exclusion zone around the resort.
He returned in 2023, two-and-a-half years after he was defeated by Biden.
Trump will have an official state visit to the UK in September when he and First Lady Melania Trump will be hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle in Berkshire.
It is the second state visit he has been afforded – second-term US presidents are traditionally not offered state visits and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch, usually at Windsor Castle.
[BBC]