DONALD THUMP
Farmer regrets not ‘knocking ex-president on his a *** ’ over golf course buyout bids
AN angry farmer has told how he regrets not knocking Donald Trump on his ‘a***’ when he opened his Scottish golf course 10 years ago.
When plans for Trump International Golf Links were announced, the war between the US billionaire and a small Aberdeenshire community hit the headlines.
Farmer Michael Forbes has lived on the Menie estate since he was 14 and never thought his face would be seen by millions.
Trump’s foe continues to live in his home that was described as “beyond disrepair” and “a pig-sty” by the businessman. Michael said: “He couldn’t do anything to me because I own all the land round about me. The only thing he did was block my access to the beach where I did my salmon fishing.”
A compulsory purchase order was made to force residents out but this move was stopped in 2009.
Michael said: “What he offered me for here was pennies. When I met him all he talked about was Trump and money. I really regret to this day that I didn’t knock him on his a*** then.”
Despite his refusal to give up the land on which he lived with his elderly mother and wife, the construction still had an impact on his home.
Michael said: “They built a road near where my well is which receives its supply from a spring through a pipe and then it feeds my house. When he built this road, he burst the pipe and took it away and never replaced it – they deny doing it. Five years I went without water.
“I went up on my mini digger, dug up the road, fixed my pipe and put the road back again. There were two security guards filming me but the water has been fine since.”
Michael has inspired people across the world and his resilience inspired an awardwinning documentary.
A portrait of Michael and his wife was showcased in the National Galleries of Scotland and he received the Top Scot award in 2012 at the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards.
Trump International Golf Links has been contacted for comment.