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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
James Walker

Donald Trump to meet John Swinney and open new golf course on final day in Scotland

DONALD Trump will meet with John Swinney and officially open his new golf course in Aberdeenshire on the final day of his visit to Scotland.

The US president’s fifth day in Scotland on Tuesday follows a meeting and press conference with Keir Starmer on Monday afternoon as well as a dinner with the Prime Minister and Scotland's First Minister in the evening. 

A Scottish Government spokesperson said Swinney made "the case for tariff exemptions for Scotland’s world-class whisky and salmon sector directly with the president”.

Asked earlier about tariffs on whisky, Trump had said: “We’ll talk about that, I didn’t know whisky was a problem. I’m not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.”

Trump will cut the ribbon on a second 18-hole course at his resort in Menie, Aberdeenshire before he flies back to the US on Air Force One.

The president has played several rounds of golf during his Scottish trip, teeing off at his other resort in Turnberry, Ayrshire, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

As they met at Turnberry for bilateral talks on trade and the situation in Gaza, Trump and Starmer took part in what proved to be a lengthy press conference, with the president discussing a number of topics.

The Republican Party leader spoke of his “great love” for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation “thrive”.

He returned to his long-running objections to wind turbines, branding them “ugly monsters” and speaking of his admiration for North Sea oil and gas.

Discussing the war in Ukraine, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested he would bring forward a deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire.

(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

The US president called Sadiq Khan a “nasty person”, which prompted Sir Keir to come to the defence of his “friend” the London Mayor.

Construction of the new course in Menie began in 2023, with Trump and his son Eric breaking ground on the project.

Trump International Scotland claims the two courses will be the “greatest 36 holes in golf”.

The second course is expected to be dedicated to the president’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis.

Critics say the Trump developments in Scotland have not delivered as many jobs as promised and work at the Menie site has caused environmental damage.

Trump and Starmer landed at Menie aboard Marine One, the president’s helicopter, which was seen circling the new course before it touched down on Monday evening.

A demonstration took place in Balmedie, near the resort, on Monday.

A small number of protesters sat at the roadside in the centre of the village, surrounded by cardboard signs bearing anti-Trump slogans.

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