Balmedie, Scotland — President Trump is because of arrive in Scotland Friday for a four-day non-public go back and forth — his first to the U.Ok since he was once re-elected. The White Area says he’s going to meet close to the top of his talk over with with Top Minister Keir Starmer to speak about business, however he’s going to even be opening a brand-new direction on the Trump World Golfing Hyperlinks.
Set on Scotland’s rugged northeast coast, it is a stunningly gorgeous location, and it is simple to look why President Trump was once prepared to buy the web page greater than a decade in the past and increase it right into a world-class golfing membership.
However as CBS Information realized from talking with locals, many fight to split the American President’s politics from his placing inexperienced.
David Milne purchased his outdated Coast Guard look-out at the Aberdeenshire coast over twenty years in the past, and he nonetheless lives there these days. However since 2012, it is been proper in the course of Trump territory, surrounded by way of loads of acres of transferring sand dunes which were meticulously sculpted into 36 holes that any one can play a spherical on — for approximately $500.
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Milne is not satisfied about his new neighbor.
“It is at all times second-best to what was once there initially,” he informed CBS Information. “Once I got here in right here, this panorama was once untouched… now it is only a golfing direction .”
Mr. Trump first bought the land in 2006, and right through construction he presented to shop for one of the most neighbors’ puts, too, however Milne refused to promote.
In 2011, Mr. Trump mentioned he did not just like the appearance of Milne’s belongings anyway.
“Who cares,” the longer term president informed the Golfing Channel, pointing to Milne’s house. “We are seeking to construct the best direction on this planet. The home is unpleasant.”
Requested what the land approach to himself and his circle of relatives, Milne mentioned it was once a lot more than only a patch of picturesque beach.
“Land is what Scotland is. Now not simply financially, it is within the soul of the Scottish other folks as neatly. It’s the place we come from, and the place we return to,” he mentioned.
The talk over with to Scotland is a homecoming for Mr. Trump, too. His mom, born Mary Anne MacLeod in 1912, grew up on a the Scottish Hebridean island of Lewis. He named one in every of his lessons in Aberdeenshire after her.
Mr. Trump has been met with protests on earlier visits, and vandalism at his golfing lessons has taken a political tone in contemporary months.
Tommy Campbell, a veteran exertions union activist in Scotland, informed CBS Information he was once making plans to guide any other protest right through the U.S. chief’s talk over with this weekend, with a transparent message for Mr. Trump:
“You don’t seem to be welcome right here,” he mentioned. “The insurance policies that he represents are utterly at odds with what we worth right here.”
A ballot performed in February discovered round 70% of Scots have an adverse opinion of President Trump. Within the village close to his golfing hyperlinks, CBS Information spoke with the contributors of a strolling membership, who dangle a grudge.
“The best way he handled the neighbors and belongings house owners, I believe that influenced us all badly,” mentioned one girl.
However the direction employs greater than 80 other folks, and the White Area says it has had a good financial affect within the space.
One native guy – a golfer – informed CBS Information the industry Mr. Trump has achieved, “from a golfing standpoint, is incredible.”
“Now not announcing the protests don’t seem to be proper,” he added. “A few of the stuff, I would accept as true with the protesters, however I believe there is a time and a spot for it, and it isn’t at the golfing direction.”
Reviews about President Trump are just a little like the elements in Aberdeenshire. However honest or foul — in true Scottish style — they are not likely to prevent a excellent spherical of golfing.
