‘Scotland is already nice.’ Protesters troll Trump on his {golfing} journey

EDINBURGH, Scotland — As President Trump kicked off a weekend of {golfing} in his late mom’s residence nation, lots of 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 illustration 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. “At least this bag of hot air serves a purpose,” it learn. One other waved a banner saying “Scotland is already great”— a riff off Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Protester Niamh Cunvin-Smith, 25, who traveled to the consulate protest from Inverness, requested, “Why on earth is this convicted felon allowed to come into our country and play golf when the people do not like him?”

Trump is a local son of Scotland, however most Scots do not like 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 general. (Scotland is one among 4 international locations, together with England, Wales and Northern Eire, that comprise the U.Okay.)

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 kids, 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 against Trump.” She stated Trump was “misusing his heritage.”

“A lot of Macleods are very upset with the way he’s conducting all sorts of international and national issues,” she stated.

MacLeod-Trotter stated members of the MacLeod clan had been “ashamed” to see their household identify related to a brand new golf course in Aberdeenshire; Trump is anticipated to inaugurate the brand new course this weekend in honor of his mom.

“He doesn’t do anything to help the people of Lewis, where his mother came from,” MacLeod-Trotter stated. “He just comes over to buy up golf courses and line his own 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 pal, intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein — have adopted the U.S. president to Scotland.

After Air Power One touched down Friday night time in Glasgow, Trump informed reporters on the tarmac that he was by no means briefed about his identify being in any Epstein information. 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’re making a very big thing over something that’s not a big thing,” Trump scolded reporters, reiterating feedback from earlier that media ought to as a substitute deal with Invoice Clinton, “hedge fund guys,” and different folks suspected of getting ties to Epstein.

“I’m focused on making deals. I’m not focused on conspiracy theories that you are,” the president stated late Friday. “I mean, I watch you people — it’s so sad.”

But it surely’s not simply the media. Some protesters in Edinburgh held aloft indicators with pictures of Trump and Epstein collectively. Comparable pictures have additionally appeared 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.Okay. deployed to assist Scottish police. The police operation is anticipated to price Scottish taxpayers tens of millions of {dollars}.

Kerry Walsh, visiting Edinburgh from Glasgow, stated she’s involved that “so much has been spent on him being here, and I don’t know what the benefit of him being here is, if I’m honest.”

The Scottish police union has additionally raised considerations about assets being stretched. Police warn it could take officers for much longer to answer different incidents because of this.

The president squeezes in work between rounds of golf

Trump is anticipated to be in Scotland by Tuesday. Towards the top of his keep, he is anticipated to fulfill with U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen.

Starmer and Trump introduced a restricted U.Okay-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 think it’s more of a celebration than a workout.”

“It’s a great deal for both, and we’re going to have a meeting on other things, other than the deal,” he stated. “The deal is concluded.”

However Trump has but to signal a commerce take care of the European Union. That is prone to be the main focus of his assembly on Sunday in Turnberry with von der Leyen, whom Trump referred to as a “highly-respected woman.” He stated there is a “50-50 chance” of a take care of the EU and cited sticking factors with “maybe 20 different things.”

Trump stated a U.S.-EU commerce deal “would be, actually, the biggest deal of them all, 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.Okay. 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.