EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — President Donald Trump performed golf Saturday at his course on Scotland’s coast whereas protesters across the nation took to the streets to decry his go to and accuse United Kingdom leaders of pandering to the American.
Trump and his son Eric performed with the U.S. ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, close to Turnberry, a historic course that the Trump household’s firm took over in 2014. Safety was tight, and protesters saved at a distance wand unseen by the group throughout Trump’s spherical. He was wearing black, with a white “USA” cap, and was noticed driving a golf cart.
The president appeared to play a gap 9 holes, cease for lunch, then head out for 9 extra. By the center of the afternoon, plainclothes safety officers started leaving, suggesting Trump was achieved for the day.
Tons of of demonstrators gathered on the cobblestone and tree-lined road in entrance of the U.S. Consulate about 100 miles (160 kilometers) away in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. Audio system informed the gang that Trump was not welcome and criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for hanging a latest commerce deal to keep away from stiff U.S. tariffs on items imported from the U.Ok.
Protests have been deliberate in different cities as environmental activists, opponents of Israel’s warfare with Hamas in Gaza and pro-Ukraine teams loosely shaped a “Stop Trump Coalition.” Anita Bhadani, an organizer, stated the protests have been “kind of like a carnival of resistance.”
June Osbourne, 52, a photographer and photograph historian from Edinburgh wore a pink cloak and white hood, recalling “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Osbourne held up image of Trump with “Resist” stamped over his face.
“I think there are far too many countries that are feeling the pressure of Trump and that they feel that they have to accept him and we should not accept him here,” Osbourne stated. The twin-U.S.-British citizen stated the Republican president was “the worst thing that has happened to the world, the U.S., in decades.”
Trump’s late mom, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland and the president has steered he feels at dwelling within the nation. However the protesters did their finest to vary that.
“I don’t think I could just stand by and not do anything,” stated Amy White, 15, of Edinburgh, who attended along with her mother and father. She held a cardboard signal that stated “We don’t negotiate with fascists.” She stated ”so many individuals right here detest him. We’re not divided. We’re not divided by faith, or race or political allegiance, we’re simply right here collectively as a result of we hate him.”
Different demonstrators held indicators of images with Trump and Jeffrey Epstein because the fervor over recordsdata within the case has more and more annoyed the president.
Within the view of Mark Gorman, 63, of Edinburgh, “the vast majority of Scots have this sort of feeling about Trump that, even though he has Scottish roots, he’s a disgrace.” Gorman, who works in promoting, stated he got here out “because I have deep disdain for Donald Trump and everything that he stands for.”
Saturday’s protests weren’t almost as giant because the throngs that demonstrated throughout Scotland when Trump performed at Turnberry throughout his first time period in 2018.
However, as bagpipes performed, folks chanted “Trump Out!” and raised dozens of selfmade indicators that stated issues like “No red carpet for dictators,” “We don’t want you here” and “Stop Trump. Migrants welcome.”
One canine had an indication that stated “No treats for tyrants.”
Ian Forsyth by way of Getty Photographs
Some on the far proper took to social media to name for gatherings supporting Trump in locations resembling Glasgow.
Trump additionally plans to speak commerce with Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Fee president. However golf is a significant focus.
The household can even go to one other Trump course close to Aberdeen in northeastern Scotland, earlier than returning to Washington on Tuesday. The Trumps will reduce the ribbon and play a brand new, second course in that space, which formally opens to the general public subsequent month.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who can be set to fulfill with Trump throughout the go to, introduced that public cash will go to staging the 2025 Nexo Championship, beforehand recognized beforehand because the Scottish Championship, at Trump’s first course close to Aberdeen subsequent month.
“The Scottish Government recognizes the importance and benefits of golf and golf events, including boosting tourism and our economy,” Swinney stated.
At a protest Saturday in Aberdeen, Scottish Parliament member Maggie Chapman informed the gang of a whole lot: “We stand in solidarity, not only against Trump but against everything he and his politics stand for.”
The president has lengthy lobbied for Turnberry to host the British Open, which it has not achieved since he took over possession.
In a social media submit Saturday, Trump quoted the retired golfer Gary Participant as saying Turnberry was among the many “Top Five Greatest Golf Courses” he had performed in as knowledgeable. The president, within the submit, misspelled town the place his golf course is positioned.
