Balmedie, Scotland (AP) - On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a new golf course in Scotland that bears his name, concluding a five-day international trip focused on showcasing his family's luxury ventures and golf enthusiasm.
"Let's go. 1-2-3," Trump declared before cutting the ceremonial red ribbon.
Accompanied by his sons, Eric and Donald Jr, Trump also planned to play the inaugural round at the new course located in Balmedie, a village on Scotland's northern coast.
"This has been an unbelievable development," Trump remarked at the opening ceremony. He expressed gratitude to his son Eric for his dedication to the project, describing it as "truly a labour of love for him."
This overseas trip allowed Trump to escape the sweltering summer of Washington, as well as the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.
The trip predominantly revolved around golf, with Trump touring the new course ahead of its official public opening on August 13, adding to the various ways he has utilized the White House to bolster his brand.
Billed as the “Greatest 36 Holes in Golf,” the Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, was designed by Eric Trump. The course is set to host a PGA Seniors Championship event later this week, following Trump's expected departure. Promotional signs for the event were already in place across the course before Trump's arrival, with temporary road signs guiding drivers to the location.
Early-morning golfers participating in the event had to pass through metal detectors instituted for Trump's visit. A few dozen spectators, some dressed in golfing attire, assembled in a sand trap near the tee box to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Another group watched from the tall grass on the sand dunes adjacent to the first hole.
President Trump's late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, hailed from Scotland's north, born on the Isle of Lewis. She immigrated to New York and passed away in 2000 at age 88.
"My mother loved Scotland," Trump mentioned during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday at another of his golf courses, Turnberry, on Scotland's southern coast. "It's different when your mother was born here."
During the trip, Trump also engaged in talks with Starmer to form a trade framework regarding tariffs between the U.S. and the European Union's 27 member countries, though significant details remain to be determined. However, the journey heavily featured golf, and Trump's presence is sure to boost awareness of the new course.
Trump's assets are held in a trust, with his sons managing the family business while he serves in the White House. Ultimately, any profits from the course will benefit Trump after his presidency.
Visible from the golf course are tall windmills lining the coast—some showing signs of rust. These are part of a local wind farm that Trump unsuccessfully sued to halt construction of in 2013. He lost the case and was ordered to cover legal costs, an episode that continues to frustrate him. During his meeting with Starmer, Trump described windmills as "ugly monsters" and criticized them as "the most expensive form of energy."
"I restricted windmills in the United States because they also kill all your birds," Trump said. "If you shoot a bald eagle in the United States, they put you in jail for five years. And windmills knock out hundreds of them. They don't do anything. Explain that." Starmer responded that in the UK, "We believe in a mix" of energy, including oil, gas, and renewables.
The new golf course marks the third Scottish property owned by the Trump Organization. Trump acquired Turnberry in 2014 and owns another course near Aberdeen that opened in 2012.
Trump golfed at Turnberry on Saturday amid street protests and again on Sunday. He invited Starmer, who is not known for golfing, aboard Air Force One for a private tour of his Aberdeen properties before the ceremonial opening on Tuesday.
"Even if you play badly, it's still good," Trump commented on golfing at his course over the weekend. "If you had a bad day on the golf course, it's OK. It's better than other days."
Trump also took the opportunity to commend the renovated ballroom at Turnberry, which he claimed to have extravagantly upgraded, humorously suggesting he might install a similar one at the White House.
"I could take this one, drop it right down there," Trump joked. "And it would be beautiful."
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