Turnberry, UK (AP) — On Jul 24, US President Donald Trump is set to visit Scotland, but his arrival isn't expected to be embraced by all. This trip holds personal significance, as Scotland is the homeland of Trump's mother, yet the reception is likely to be mixed.
Trump's link to Scotland is multifaceted, rooted both in family and business, yet fraught with contention.
This visit, starting Friday, will include stops at his two Scottish golf resorts, preceding a more formal welcome two months later when King Charles III is set to host Trump on a state visit to the UK.
"I'm not proud that he has Scottish heritage," expressed Patricia Sloan, who ceased patronizing the Turnberry resort after its purchase by Trump in 2014. "Every nation has its pros and cons, and if he's showcasing Scottish heritage, that's not a proud moment," she added.
The Family Legacy
Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in 1912 near Stornoway, located on the Isle of Lewis—a part of Scotland's Outer Hebrides.
"My mother was born in Scotland—Stornoway, which is serious Scotland," Trump said in 2017.
Raised in a large Gaelic-speaking family, MacLeod left for New York in 1930, joining many islanders seeking better opportunities post-World War I.
She married Fred C. Trump, the future president's father and son of German immigrants, in 1936, and lived until August 2000, passing at 88.
Trump still has family on Lewis and made a brief visit in 2008, spending some time in his mother's modest childhood home.
Trump's Ties with Scottish Golf
Scotland's sprawling golf courses both reflect and complicate Trump's connections there.
In 2006, Trump proposed developing a golf course along a scenic stretch of the North Sea coast near Aberdeen. Despite backing from the Scottish government, locals and conservationists opposed, concerned for rare wildlife like skylarks and otters in the coastal dunes.
Michael Forbes, a local fisherman, gained international attention standing his ground against Trump's offer of 350,000 GBP (USD 690,000 at the time) for his family's farm. Trump once derisively referred to the property as “a slum and a pigsty.”
"If it weren't for my mother, I think I would have walked away," Trump remarked in 2008 during the heated planning debates. "If she hadn't been born in Scotland, I probably wouldn't have started it."
The golf course finally opened in 2012, although plans for a resort haven't entirely come to fruition—neither 500 homes nor a 450-room hotel have been built, and the venue is unprofitable. Still, another course, the MacLeod Course, is set to open soon in tribute to his mother.
Turnberry, on Scotland's opposite coast, hasn't seen the same level of controversy.
“He brought jobs to the area,” acknowledged local Louise Robertson. “He invested heavily in the hotel and lighthouse restoration, which locals appreciated. Beyond that, there's not much positive to add.”
Trump has long expressed interest in bringing the British Open back to Turnberry, a venue it's hosted since 2009, but logistical challenges remain.
Upcoming Protests and Political Engagement
Trump encounters complexities not only with Scotland's land but also its politics.
Earlier, Trump was recruited by the Scottish government into the GlobalScot network as an unpaid adviser until 2015, when he called for a US Muslim ban. Consequently, Trump lost the role, as well as an honorary Aberdeen university degree.
This week, Trump is slated to meet Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who previously critiqued Trump and supported Kamala Harris during the US elections—a decision criticized by Trump's Scottish business representatives.
"Meeting the president aligns with Scotland's interests," Swinney claimed.
Despite this diplomatic gathering, protests are anticipated, preparing law enforcement for significant demonstrations. Stop Trump Scotland mobilizes opposition in Aberdeen, soliciting public disdain towards Trump's presence.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also intends to visit, having established a notably warm rapport with Trump, as termed by the president himself. “I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he's liberal,” Trump said earlier. Their talks may include trade negotiations, with Starmer striving to secure a UK excusal from Trump's metal tariffs. Yet, the possibility of the two playing golf remains unspoken.
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