TRUMP FLIES INTO A STORM
President to spend most of UK trip in Scotland amid protest fears
DONALD Trump will fly into Scotland amid a storm of protest next week as he makes his first official visit to the UK as US President.
Mr Trump will spend most of his three-day trip avoiding the baying mobs during a ‘private’ weekend at his plush golf resort at Turnberry.
it was confirmed yesterday that the US President, accompanied by wife Melania, will head north of the Border following a meeting with the Queen next Friday.
it is not yet known whether Mr Trump will meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who in 2015 stripped him of his role as a business ambassador for Scotland.
The Scottish Government yesterday said ‘nothing has been confirmed’, but Whitehall staff confirmed he will not be carrying out any official engagements.
Protests are expected at the luxury golf club Mr Trump owns in Aberdeenshire, along with major rallies in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Police Scotland has already
said his visit will require more than 5,000 officers, at a cost of £5million – although this will be paid by the UK Government.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has vowed his party will help lead the protests against Mr Trump – branding him a ‘misogynist and a racist’.
British and US officials fear the volatile President could react angrily if confronted by hostile protesters. As a result, his schedule appears designed to keep him out of public view, including tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle and talks with the Prime Minister at her country retreat Chequers.
Mr Trump’s relationship with Miss Sturgeon became strained last year when she called for any state visit to be cancelled due to his immigration policies.
Yesterday, the First Minister took a swipe at the President’s opposition to wind turbines while giving a speech at a technology event in London. She said: ‘A few years ago you might have heard of these turbines because a famous golf course owner from America tried to block them because they spoiled the view from his new golf course.’
Whitehall sources said the President and First Lady are expected to spend the whole weekend in Scotland in what they described as a ‘private visit’ with no official engagements.
The full details of the President’s visit have not yet been finalised, but it is understood he will stay on the mainland and will not visit his mother’s birthplace on Lewis.
It is believed he will base himself at Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast due to its proximity to Prestwick Airport.
Downing Street confirmed the visit will begin on Thursday at Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The President will be greeted in the Great Court by the bands of the Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards, who will play the Liberty Fanfare, Amazing Grace and the National Emblem.
A black tie dinner in his honour will be attended by around 100 leading figures from the worlds of business and politics.
He will then travel to Winfield House for the night. It stands in 12 acres of grounds in Regent’s Park – the second biggest garden in Central London after Buckingham Palace – and will be crawling with armed security guards.
On Friday morning, President Trump and Theresa May will watch a joint military exercise involving British and American forces before heading to Chequers for a working lunch. Talks are expected to focus on the US-EU trade war, postBrexit trade, Nato and security co-operation.
Following a meeting with the Queen at Windsor Castle, Mr Trump will head north to Scotland for two days ahead of a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland.
Mr Leonard and Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie last night backed protests planned by Left-wing group Scotland Against Trump. There will be a rally in Glasgow’s George Square on Friday evening, while Saturday will see a protest outside his Balmedie golf course in Aberdeenshire.
A demonstration is planned at the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh on the same day, along with a ‘Carnival of Resistance’ in The Meadows area of the capital.
Mr Leonard said: ‘The sight of mothers separated from babies and children caged like animals has horrified people across the globe. We should not be welcoming the man responsible.
‘Someone who holds such misogynist, racist and anti-trade union views, not to mention his dangerous approach to foreign policy and rejection of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, should not be given the red carpet treatment.
‘That is why Scottish Labour is helping to lead the Scotland Against Trump campaign to ensure there is a mass protest against Donald Trump next week.’
Mr Harvie said: ‘Donald Trump has not been invited to Scotland and even if he sticks to Turnberry or Menie there will be huge protests in our biggest cities that will send a message loud and clear.
‘Greens will be proud to take part in events to tell this vile xenophobe he and his climate denial, his bullying attitude and his racist and sexist politics are not welcome here.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said while no talks are scheduled with the President, Miss Sturgeon would ‘consider a meeting should one be proposed’.
He added: ‘President Trump is coming to the UK at the invitation of the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government has been planning for some time for the possibility of the President’s itinerary including a visit to Scotland.
‘Scotland has deep and longstanding ties of family, friendship and business with the United States, which will continue to endure. At the same time, we will not compromise our fundamental values of equality, diversity and human rights and we expect these values to be made clear during the presidential visit to the UK.
‘We would encourage those attending any protests to do so peacefully and safely.’
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams of Police Scotland said: ‘While the details of the President’s programme are not yet clear, our objectives will be to ensure the safety of the President and of those travelling with him and to maintain public safety.’
‘There will be huge protests’