Trump returns to Scotland to honor his mother and do business

LondonInstead of Mar-a-Lago (Florida), where Donald Trump takes refuge almost every weekend of his presidency to play golf in the so-called Winter White House, the President of the United States has chosen his courses in Scotland to get away from Washington for a few days. and, by the way, also the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein and the declassification of the pedophile files, which has been postponed until at least September. Trump will arrive this Friday and remain until next Tuesday. And in August, Vice President JD Vance will visit the United Kingdom. He and his family will spend a few days vacationing in the Cotswolds, one of the most charming areas in England.

The purpose of Trump's trip, however, is not just relaxation and golf. Officially classified as semi-private, it combines personal and diplomatic interests, as is typical of the president's approach, which has completely blurred the boundaries between public service and personal gain. Trump will inaugurate a new golf course in Aberdeen County—he laid the foundation stone in 2023, on his most recent trip to Scotland so far—and will also meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer—possibly on Monday—to finalize the terms of the future trade agreement between the US and the United Kingdom.

He is also scheduled to meet with First Minister John Swinney, during which they are expected to discuss sensitive issues for Scotland, such as potential whisky tariffs. However, the solution to this conundrum will be included in the package that the White House ultimately agrees with Downing Street, so Swinney has little say.

Trump has two major investments in Scotland: the Turnberry resort in Ayrshire, which he bought in 2014, and the aforementioned Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeen, which opened in 2012 amid controversy over its environmental impact on the surrounding dunes. In addition, on the same estate, he will inaugurate a new 18-hole course called MacLeod, in honor of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, originally from the Isle of Lewis, who emigrated to the United States in 1930 at the age of 18. A memorial garden will also be opened in her memory. Both spaces seemingly reinforce the US president's personal ties to Scotland.

Action against Turnberry golf course

Despite these Scottish roots, as on previous occasions, Trump's arrival has not generated great enthusiasm among the country's public. Various protest groups have mobilized to make their voices heard, although it is certain that the president will not even notice, given the shielding under which his presence has been subjected.

However, the Stop Trump Coalition –a platform that includes unions, environmentalists, anti-racist organizations, and feminist groups– has called for a major Festival of Resistance on July 26 in both Aberdeen and Edinburgh city centers. The coalition has called on John Swinney not to meet with the president, accusing him of authoritarianism, climate denial, and policies harmful to immigrant and minority communities. Other groups, including Extinction Rebellion, Stand Up to Racism, and the Scottish Greens, have also announced parallel protests in Glasgow and around Turnberry.

Activists have promised creative methods to make their presence felt: marches, concerts, aerial banners, and giant messages drawn in the sand, to be seen by the president from the helicopter he is scheduled to use during his five-day stay in Scotland. A recent incident involving the Palestine Action group at Turnberry, where part of the field was damaged to denounce Trump's policy in the Gaza Strip, has further inflamed tempers.

The president's trip is considered a prelude to the state visit –the second, something totally exceptional; already made one during his first stay at the White House – scheduled for September 17-19, during which Trump will be hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle. Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered the monarch's invitation letter during his first trip to Washington, five weeks after Trump took office, something that was interpreted as a way of flattering the ego of the figure, who is very attracted to royals British. The same anti-Trump coalition has called for a protest march in central London on Wednesday, September 17.

Scottish authorities have warned that, despite Donald Trump's smaller stay, a large-scale security operation will be required, one of the largest in the history of the country. since the death of Elizabeth IIDubbed Operation Roll, it included roadblocks, no-fly zones, and close coordination between the Scottish police, the British government, and the US secret services. Approximately 5,000 officers were deployed.

Known destination

This is not the first time Trump has traveled to Scotland, either as a businessman or as president. In 2016, the day after the Brexit referendum, when he had not yet been nominated as a candidate for that year's election, he visited Turnberry. His presence coincided with mass demonstrations and the flying of a giant banner over the resort that read:Love Trumps HateThe slogan emerged during that election campaign and was promoted by Hillary Clinton's supporters. The wordplay was based on the surname Trump (which also means succeed either get over (in English) and the idea that "love conquers hate." In July 2018, as the 45th president of the United States, he made a stopover in Scotland after meeting with Theresa MayThat visit was also marked by large protests in Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the tycoon's famous "baby balloon" waving in the skies.

Trump's Scottish investments have always been controversial. The president presents them as a symbol of international investment and luxury tourism, while his critics denounce the destruction of natural landscapes and broken promises regarding jobs.

In 2019, the Scottish government withdrew the protected status of the Menie Dunes in Aberdeen County, arguing that the environmental damage caused by the construction of the Trump International Golf Links was irreversible. The golf course empire remains a personal and business showcase for Trump. But while Turnberry made a profit of 3.8 million pounds in 2023, the Aberdeen resort recorded a loss of 1.4 million pounds. The opening of the MacLeod course seeks to revitalize the business and attract more international tourism. Once again, Air Force One and the presidency are at the service of the tycoon's private businesses.