‘Bolt ya rocket’: Scottish message for president

Donald Trump has touched down in Scotland, with the controversial US president arriving for a “private visit” shortly after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest against his visit.

Thousands of Scots gathered in Glasgow’s George Square, waving signs with messages such as “Give the weans Irn Bru not iron cages”.

Another protester told the tycoon-turned-politician: “Bolt ya rocket and make Scotland great again.”

Mr Trump and his wife Melania travelled to Scotland aboard Air Force One, touching down at Prestwick Airport at 8.22 last night.

Hundreds of people who had gathered at a viewing area there looked on as the president and first lady disembarked from the plane and were greeted, briefly, by Scottish Secretary David Mundell.

The Trumps were then driven to the nearby Turnberry golf resort, one of two golf courses in Scotland owned by the president

Mr Mundell said afterwards the US president told him he was “pleased to be here” and that the UK’s relationship with the US was “very important”.

The Scottish secretary said: “I was pleased to greet Mr Trump on behalf of the UK Government when he arrived in Scotland.

“The UK and the USA have a long and important relationship – we have close cultural ties, a strong economic partnership and the US is one of our most important security allies.

“The president’s visit is an opportunity to strengthen those vital links. Mr Trump is passionate about his Scottish heritage and I hope he enjoys his visit to Scotland.”

A Trump jet, used by the president’s family, was already parked outside a hangar at Prestwick when Air Force One touched down.

The president’s son Eric Trump had spent Thursday at the Trump golf course in Aberdeenshire and said he was looking forward to spending the weekend with his father.

However, others were less pleased by the arrival of Mr Trump, whose mother was born on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis.

Earlier in the evening demonstrators had packed George Square, with SNP depute leader Keith Brown declaring: “Let’s show what Scotland thinks of his immigration policies, of his antiMuslim policies.”