Police preparing for Donald Trump to visit Scotland

Mary McCoolBBC Scotland NewsGetty ImagesDonald Trump at his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire in 2023Police have confirmed they’re making ready for a possible go to by Donald Trump to Scotland later this month.The US president is predicted to journey to his golf resort at Menie in Aberdeenshire the place he’ll open a brand new course.It’s understood there shall be no non-public assembly with King Charles, nonetheless Trump will make a full state go to to the UK this 12 months, more than likely in September.The Scottish authorities stated it was working with the UK authorities to assist Police Scotland, and that first minister John Swinney had been briefed on police preparations.Assistant chief constable Emma Bond stated: “Planning is beneath means for a possible go to to Scotland later this month.”Whereas official affirmation has not but been made, it is crucial that we put together upfront for what can be a big policing operation.”The Trump Organisation owns Trump Worldwide Scotland in Aberdeenshire and the Trump Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire.If it goes forward, it will be the primary time Donald Trump has visited Scotland since his victory within the US election.His final presidential go to in 2018 required a significant safety operation with 1000’s protesting in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.Liberal Democrat Scottish affairs spokesperson, Christine Jardine MP, criticised the “hundreds of thousands in policing prices” from earlier visits.She stated: “They will need to have been among the many costliest rounds of golf in historical past. I hope that this time Police Scotland won’t be ignored of pocket.”Jardine additionally stated Trump’s go to ought to be a possibility to attempt to “alleviate the menace” of US commerce tariffs on Scottish companies.Donald Trump was booed at Turnberry on his go to in 2018Trump’s final go to was in 2023, when he and son Eric broke floor on the brand new 18-hole course on the Aberdeenshire resort.It was initially introduced because the MacLeod Course – after Trump’s Lewis-born mom, Mary – however final month Trump Worldwide stated the title had been modified to the “New Course”.The organisation stated it will function the “largest sand dunes in Scotland” alongside the Previous Course – accomplished in 2012.The resort has prompted controversy previously – 5 years in the past the dunes misplaced their standing as a nationally-important protected setting.Nevertheless, Trump Worldwide claimed the course was “one of the environmentally pleasant and sustainable” ever constructed.The Scottish Inexperienced Celebration beforehand stated Trump was “not welcome” and accused him of being a climate-change denier with a “historical past of lies and dodgy enterprise dealings”.Throughout his 2018 go to, Trump was booed throughout a day recreation of golf by demonstrators gathered alongside the the perimeter of his Turnberry resort in Ayrshire.A paraglider additionally flew over the resort with a banner criticising the president.Trump InternationalTrump reduce the ribbon to start work on the second course in Aberdeenshire on his 2023 visitLast month Buckingham Palace confirmed a state go to invitation, signed by the King, had been despatched to Trump on the White Home.”His Majesty has recognized President Trump for a few years and appears ahead to internet hosting him and the First Woman later this 12 months,” a Buckingham Palace aide advised the BBC.Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner advised the UK Parliament: “We’re actually happy the US president is coming for a second state go to.”This adopted a earlier invitation from the King, handed to Trump by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in February, to debate particulars of the state go to at both Dumfries Home or Balmoral, each in Scotland.Fiery showdownTraditionally, second-term US presidents are usually not supplied a state go to and have as a substitute been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Fort.Trump was hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II throughout his earlier three-day state go to in 2019, which passed off throughout his first time period in workplace.Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, advised the BBC he didn’t see how a state go to for the US president might presumably go forward due to remarks Trump had made to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.In a fiery showdown, Trump accused Zelensky of “playing with World Warfare Three”.It adopted a lot of SNP MPs criticising the prime minister’s relationship with Trump on social media. The occasion’s Westminster chief Stephen Flynn stated Starmer “higher get again up off his knees and revoke that supply of a state go to”. Starmer dismissed these calls.