President bid Trump: I’ll be Putin’s pal
DONALD Trump has claimed he would get on ‘very well’ with Vladimir Putin as he made a major foray into foreign affairs yesterday.
In a stinging attack on ‘political correctness’, the frontrunner in the race to be Republican presidential candidate said he would ‘unite the world’ and heal relationships with countries such as Russia and China if he makes it to the White House.
Speaking at a press conference at Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire, which he bought last year for £35million, he said he was delighted Scots had voted against independence and claimed he had done Scotland a ‘big favour’ with his fight against wind farms.
Mr Trump arrived at the golf resort, which is staging the Women’s British Open, by private helicopter.
The 69-year-old tycoon, whose mother was Scottish, is leading in most US opinion polls.
Journalists were told he only wanted to talk about golf at his press conference, but he readily took questions on his presidential bid.
Asked about foreign affairs, he said: ‘I think I’d probably get along very well with Russia. I think I’d probably get along very well with Putin. I think I’d probably get along very well with the people of China.’ He went on: ‘I think there’s been too much diplomacy. I think we’re so politically correct in our country that people are sick and tired of it and things aren’t getting done. I think I would be a great uniter… I think the world would unite if I were the leader of the United States.’
Turning to the issue of Scottish independence he said a second referendum would be ridiculous, adding: ‘I’d be extremely upset if that was even thought about… it was a very bad period for Scotland. It was very divisive.’
Referring to his opposition to wind farms, he said: ‘I think I’ve done Scotland a very big favour. You can fight these monstrosities. Energy costs are going up and your taxes are going up. So I think I’ve really set an example. I’ve shown people you can fight government.’