News Summary
Donald Trump is preparing for a four-day visit to Scotland, with plans to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Local residents in Balmedie express ongoing criticisms of his business practices at his golf resorts, highlighting unfulfilled promises and financial losses. Protests are anticipated during his visit, emphasizing the strained relationship between Trump and the Scottish community.
Balmedie, Scotland – Donald Trump is set to return to Scotland for a four-day visit beginning July 25, 2025. The visit includes stops at his golf resorts in Turnberry and Balmedie, where he is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 28 to discuss a recent U.S.-U.K. trade deal.
Local residents in Balmedie remain critical of Trump’s business practices as he prepares for his visit. Michael Forbes, a retired quarry worker, has been vocal about his discontent, claiming that Trump has been a poor neighbor and asserting that the land in the area will never belong to him. Forbes, along with several other families, has resisted Trump’s attempts to purchase their land for nearly two decades, accusing him of using bullying tactics to secure agreements, which Trump has denied.
Concerns about the golf resort’s impact on the local community have persisted. Many residents express disappointment that Trump’s golf course has not delivered on promises of substantial job creation and economic development. While Trump pledged to invest $1.5 billion into the project, he has reportedly spent only around $120 million. The resort was expected to create 1,000 permanent jobs and thousands of temporary construction positions, but in reality, only 84 jobs have materialized since its opening. Additionally, while the initial plans included a 450-room luxury hotel and multiple residential properties, the actual construction has yielded only a 19-room boutique hotel and a small clubhouse.
The financial aspects of Trump’s venture have also raised eyebrows. In 2023 alone, the Balmedie golf course lost approximately $1.9 million, marking its 11th consecutive year of financial losses since Trump acquired the land in 2006. Residents have noted that the course rarely sees a busy crowd, with summer fairways often underutilized. Despite differing opinions, some locals do acknowledge improvements in the landscape due to Trump’s developments, particularly the transformation of natural dunes into golf course fairways.
Public sentiment towards Trump in Scotland is overwhelmingly negative, with recent surveys indicating that 70% of Scots hold an unfavorable opinion of him. This sentiment is higher in Scotland compared to other regions in the United Kingdom. Trump’s planned opening of a new 18-hole course at his Balmedie property, dedicated to his mother, may further stir local emotions.
As Trump prepares for his visit, protests are anticipated, particularly from the Stop Trump Coalition, along with other groups expressing their discontent. Concerns have been raised regarding potential vandalism and adverse responses linked to Trump’s business methods and political views.
Trump’s history of interactions with local residents has often been fraught with tension. Disputes have erupted over incidents such as alleged sabotage of a water line on Forbes’ property, which left his family without clean drinking water for five years. Another resident, David Milne, has rejected offers to sell his property to Trump, citing unreasonably low offers and detrimental changes to his view due to construction.
Since the opening of Trump’s golf course in 2012, community members have expressed their dissatisfaction, highlighting unfulfilled promises and a loss of trust. Former Aberdeen city councillors have recently expressed regret over their earlier support for Trump’s project, chiefly attributed to environmental concerns. The dunes that once held the status of a Site of Special Scientific Interest relinquished this designation in 2020, according to Nature Scot. Trump has also been embroiled in legal disputes over a wind farm constructed near the golf course, which he opposed vocally.
As the date of his visit approaches, the relationship between Trump and the local Scottish communities continues to be complicated, marked by criticism, local resistance, and the fraught legacy of his business practices in the region.
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Additional Resources
- USA Today: Trump’s Scotland Golf Resort
- Wikipedia: Donald Trump
- CBS News: Trump’s Scotland Golf Course
- Google Search: Trump golf course Scotland
- The New York Times: Trump Visit to Scotland
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Trade Agreement
- The Washington Post: Trump and Starmer in Scotland
- Google News: Trump visit Scotland
- Press Democrat: Trump’s Trip to Scotland
- Google Scholar: Trump golf course Scotland
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