As he arrived at his Scottish golf course in Aberdeen, Donald Trump told reporters waiting for him that it was great to be “home”.
The businessman’s private jet – whose mom Mary was from Lewis – landed shortly after 11:25 local time. The Republican debarked about 30 minutes later.
Two pipers, an impressive motorcade of 10 vehicles, a red-carpeted entrance and Sarah Malone as the Executive Vice President for Trump International in Scotland welcomed him.
He briefly spoke to journalists but refused to answer questions.
He announced his visit to the Balmedie Golf Club, which he owns, on Truth Social, a social media platform that he founded. The second course would be “spectacular”.
The golfer is also scheduled to visit Turnberry in Ayrshire.
This is his first visit to Scotland since 2018, when he was there on a state trip.
Trump said on Truth Social that the golf courses and hotels in Scotland and Ireland are the best in the world.
“Will meet with many wonderful people and cut a ribbon to open a second and spectacular course in Aberdeen.
“It’s very exciting, despite my desire to’make America Great Again’. In fact, America will become greater than it has ever been before.”
Donald Trump arrives in Dyce, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on Monday, May 1, 2023. (Photo: Press Association via AP Images).
When asked last week if Trump would meet him, the First Minister Humza Yousaf replied: “It’s difficult to meet with someone who has made such controversial remarks about Muslims before.”
Yousaf stated that the Home Office in 2021 should “take seriously consideration” of denying him entry. This was the day following the deadly riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
He said that the Home Secretary has the authority to prevent a person from entering the UK if “their presence is not conducive for the public good.”
“Trump is defaulting to incite racial tension, and yesterday he incited violent mob.”
Trump’s visit comes as he is facing a number of legal problems at home.
Former U.S. presidents have never been criminally charged before.
Manhattan’s district attorney charged Trump with hush-money payments to pornstar Stormy Daniels.
A prosecutor in Georgia is currently investigating his alleged attempts to reverse his defeat in Georgia’s 2020 elections.
Trump’s actions during the 2020 presidential election, and his retention of classified documents even after leaving the White House in 2021 are also under investigation.
All of this comes at the same time as a House of Representatives special committee investigates the role he played in the assault of Trump supporters on U.S. Capitol, which took place on Jan. 6, 2017.
Trump is also the subject of a civil suit, filed by New York Attorney Letitia James in September last year for fraud against Trump and his Organization.
Last week, E Jean Carroll was in court for accusing Trump of rape during the mid-1990s.
She says he slandered her by denying that it ever happened.
Some Scottish political parties weren’t enthusiastic about the visit.
Maggie Chapman, MSP for North East Green, said that Trump has left a “trail of destruction and broken promise.”
She said: “He can never be blamed for delivering positive results for my constituency or Scotland other than his long absence.
Some people in Scotland were blinded to Trump’s promise of bringing big business to Scotland. Like he does everywhere else, Trump created a mess and broken his promises.
This visit serves as a reminder of the damage Trump caused. The Menie Estate has been responsible for the destruction locally of the fragile dunes ecosystem. His dangerous rhetoric has emboldened right-wing demagogues both in the United States and abroad. We should all be warned by his broken promises made to the communities of Aberdeenshire.
The sooner he faces justice in the U.S., the better.
Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson, urged Yousaf that he investigate the funding behind Trump’s courses.
He said: “Donald Trump’s previous visits to the United States have cost us millions of dollars in police costs. These were the most expensive golf rounds in history.
The Scottish Government has refused to investigate the financial transactions surrounding Donald Trump’s purchase Turnberry Golf Course.
The new first minister should reconsider this decision.
