Donald Trump said ‘it’s great to be home’ as he arrived in Scotland today to cut the ribbon on a ‘spectacular’ but controversial second golf course in the country.
The former president landed in Aberdeen on Monday morning, saying on Truth Social – the social media platform he owns – that he will be opening the second course at the Menie Estate which was given planning permission in 2020.
Trump’s private Boeing 757-200 – known as Trump Force One – was seen landing at Aberdeen airport just after 11.30am GMT. The plane – with TRUMP written down the side in gold lettering and an American flag painted on the tail – was met by two pipers, a red carpet and a 10-vehicle motorcade.
Waring a black overcoat, navy suit and red tie, Trump was seen disembarking down a flight of stairs – following an entourage of staffers into one of the waiting vehicles.
He greeted the waiting media, but not stop to take questions, telling reporters only: ‘It’s great to be home. It’s the home of my mother.’
Donald Trump has arrived in Scotland to cut the ribbon on a ‘spectacular’ but controversial second golf course in the country
Trump’s private Boeing 757-200 – known as Trump Force One (pictured) – was seen landing at Aberdeen airport just after 11.30am GMT
Following his time in Scotland, the former president will then head to his course in Doonbeg on Ireland’s west coast.
Despite the visit, Trump, who is running for the White House again in 2024 and is seen by many as the presumptive Republican nominee, said his campaign is ‘on my mind’, stressing that a victory for him would make America ‘greater than ever before’.
‘Will be leaving for Scotland & Ireland soon in order to see and inspect my great properties there,’ he wrote.
‘The golf courses and hotels are among the greatest in the world – Turnberry and Aberdeen, in Scotland, and Doonbeg, in Ireland.
‘Will be meeting with many wonderful friends, and cutting a ribbon for a new and spectacular second course in Aberdeen.
‘Very exciting despite the fact that it is ‘make America great again’ that is on my mind, in fact, America will be greater than ever before.’
The second course – and the construction of 550 homes on the estate – has not been popular among some of the locals in the northeastern Scottish region.
When Aberdeenshire council planners approved the new project back in 2020, it provoked a furious backlash from conservationists who said it could have a catastrophic impact on the area’s environment.
His first course on the Menie estate, built in 2012, has been blamed for damaging sand dunes at a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).
As a result, conservationists urged Aberdeenshire council to deny permission for the second course to built.
Their warnings were ignored, arguing at the time that the new course ‘will contribute towards the significant social and economic benefits expected to be delivered by the wider development proposals within the Menie estate.’
Trump had previously spent two days at his Turnberry course while in office in 2018, meeting Britain’s then-Prime Minister Theresa May and the late Queen during the visit. Pictured: Trump is seen playing a round of golf during his last visit to Scotland in 2018
The tycoon’s trip to Scotland comes as he faces legal trouble in his native New York over his business practices.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records to hide damaging information ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump had previously spent two days at his Turnberry course while in office in 2018, meeting Britain’s then-Prime Minister Theresa May and the late Queen during the visit.
Asked last week if he will meet Trump, who has made controversial statements about Muslims in the past, Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf said: ‘I would find it difficult, I have to say, to meet with him without raising the significance of concerns I have of the remarks that he’s made in the past.’
