A person seen by way of the windshield of a transferring car holds up an indication studying: “This isn’t a paedophile island. You aren’t welcome right here,” because the motorcade of President Trump arrives on the golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, on Friday.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
EDINBURGH, Scotland — As President Trump kicked off a weekend of {golfing} in his late mom’s dwelling nation, a whole lot of protesters rallied exterior his resorts and in cities throughout Scotland — abseiling off a bridge, waving Palestinian flags and chanting for the U.S. president to be deported.
At an indication on Saturday exterior the U.S. consulate within the capital Edinburgh, one protester held Scottish bagpipes in a single arm, and an indication within the different. “A minimum of this bag of scorching air serves a goal,” it learn. One other waved a banner saying “Scotland is already nice”— a riff off Trump’s “Make America Nice Once more” slogan.
Protester Niamh Cunvin-Smith, 25, who traveled to the consulate protest from Inverness, requested, “Why on earth is that this convicted felon allowed to come back into our nation and play golf when the individuals don’t like him?”
Trump is a local son of Scotland, however most Scots don’t love him
One current ballot discovered 71% of individuals in Scotland have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, in comparison with 57% of individuals in the UK total. (Scotland is one among 4 nations, together with England, Wales and Northern Eire, that comprise the U.Ok.)
Trump was {golfing} Saturday at one among his resorts in Turnberry, about 100 miles from the U.S. consulate, which was closed all weekend.
Trump’s mom, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born and raised on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides islands. Her first language was Scottish Gaelic. She left at age 18 for New York, the place she married Trump’s father, had 5 youngsters, and died in 2000.
Among the many protesters gathered in Edinburgh was a distant relative of the American president, Janet MacLeod-Trotter, who held an indication that learn “MacLeods towards Trump.” She stated Trump was “misusing his heritage.”
“Lots of Macleods are very upset with the best way he is conducting all types of worldwide and nationwide points,” she stated.
MacLeod-Trotter stated members of the MacLeod clan have been “ashamed” to see their household identify related to a brand new golf course in Aberdeenshire; Trump is predicted to inaugurate the brand new course this weekend in honor of his mom.
“He would not do something to assist the individuals of Lewis, the place his mom got here from,” MacLeod-Trotter stated. “He simply comes over to purchase up golf programs and line his personal pockets.”
Scrutiny over his ties to Epstein trails Trump abroad
Questions on Trump’s Gaza coverage, tariffs and commerce negotiations — and about his late, former good friend, intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein — have adopted the U.S. president to Scotland.
After Air Pressure One touched down Friday night time in Glasgow, Trump advised reporters on the tarmac that he was by no means briefed about his identify being in any Epstein recordsdata. He stated he has the ability to pardon Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who’s serving a 20-year jail sentence for sex-trafficking — however stated he hasn’t thought that a lot about it.
“You are making a really massive factor over one thing that is not a giant factor,” Trump scolded reporters, reiterating feedback from earlier that media ought to as a substitute give attention to Invoice Clinton, “hedge fund guys,” and different individuals suspected of getting ties to Epstein.
“I am centered on making offers. I am not centered on conspiracy theories that you’re,” the president stated late Friday. “I imply, I watch you individuals — it is so unhappy.”
However it’s not simply the media. Some protesters in Edinburgh held aloft indicators with pictures of Trump and Epstein collectively. Comparable pictures have additionally appeared just lately at bus stops in London. And earlier this week, Scottish protesters stealthily put up an indication exterior one among Trump’s golf resorts saying the property was “twinned with Epstein Island.”
Many Scots say Trump’s safety throughout a personal go to should not fall to taxpayers
A serious safety operation is underway in Scotland for Trump’s go to, with officers from forces across the U.Ok. deployed to help Scottish police. The police operation is predicted to value Scottish taxpayers thousands and thousands of {dollars}.
Kerry Walsh, visiting Edinburgh from Glasgow, stated she’s involved that “a lot has been spent on him being right here, and I do not know what the advantage of him being right here is, if I am trustworthy.”
The Scottish police union has additionally raised issues about assets being stretched. Police warn it might take officers for much longer to reply to different incidents consequently.
The president squeezes in work between rounds of golf
Trump is predicted to be in Scotland by way of Tuesday. Towards the top of his keep, he is anticipated to satisfy with U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.
Starmer and Trump introduced a restricted U.Ok-U.S. commerce deal in Could. The White Home had stated they’d meet in Scotland to “refine” the deal. However upon his arrival, Trump stated, “I feel it is extra of a celebration than a exercise.”
“It is an important deal for each, and we’ll have a gathering on different issues, aside from the deal,” he stated. “The deal is concluded.”
However Trump has but to signal a commerce cope with the European Union. That is prone to be the main focus of his assembly on Sunday in Turnberry with von der Leyen, whom Trump known as a “highly-respected lady.” He stated there is a “50-50 probability” of a cope with the EU and cited sticking factors with “possibly 20 various things.”
Trump stated a U.S.-EU commerce deal “could be, really, the most important deal of all of them, if we make it.”
Trump will return to the UK in lower than two months
This Scotland journey is a personal presidential go to. Trump plans to return to the U.Ok. in September for a state go to with King Charles III at Windsor Fort close to London. It is an unprecedented second state go to for Trump, who visited Charles’ mom, the late Queen Elizabeth II, additionally at Windsor, in 2019.
