Trump wraps up golf-filled Scotland visit by opening new golf course bearing his name
"Let's go. 1-2-3," Trump said before he cut the red ribbon.
Trump and his sons, Eric and Donald Jr., were also set to play the first-ever round at the new Trump course in the village of Balmedie, on the northern coast of Scotland.
"This has been an unbelievable development," Mr. Trump said before the ceremonial opening. He thanked his son Eric for his work on the project, saying it was "truly a labor of love for him."
The overseas jaunt enabled Mr. Trump escape Washington's sweaty summer humidity and the still-raging scandal over the case of Jeffrey Epstein.
It was mostly built around golf - and walking the new course before it officially begins offering rounds to the public on Aug. 13, adding to a lengthy list of ways the president has used the White House to promote his brand.
Billing itself the "Greatest 36 Holes in Golf," the Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, was designed by Eric Trump. The course is hosting a PGA Seniors Championship event later this week, after Mr. Trump leaves. Signs promoting the event had already been erected all over the course before he arrived on Tuesday and, on the highway leading in, temporary metal signs guided drivers onto the correct road.
Golfers hitting the course at dawn as part of that event had to put their clubs through metal detectors erected as part of the security sweeps ahead of his arrival. Several dozen people, some dressed for golf, including wearing cleats, had filled the sand trap near the tee box to watch the ribbon-cutting ceremony shortly before it was scheduled to start. Another group of people was watching from the other side in tall grass growing on sand dunes flanking the first hole.
Also from Scotland's north is the president's late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis, immigrated to New York and died in 2000 at age 88.
"My mother loved Scotland," Mr. Trump said during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday at another one of his golf courses, Turnberry, on Scotland's southern coast. "It's different when your mother was born here."
Mr. Trump used his trip to meet with Starmer and reach a trade framework for tariffs between the U.S. and the European Union's 27 member countries - though scores of key details remain to be hammered out. But the trip has featured a lot of golf, and having the president visit is sure to raise the new course's profile.
Mr. Trump's assets are in a trust, and his sons are running the family business while he's in the White House. Any business generated at the course will ultimately enrich the president when he leaves office though.
Visible from various parts of the new course were towering windmills lining the coast - some with blades that showed visible dots of rust. They are part of a nearby windfarm that Mr. Trump sued to block construction of in 2013.
He lost that case and was eventually ordered to pay legal costs for bringing it - and the issue still enrages him. During the meeting with Starmer, Mr. Trump called windmills "ugly monsters" and suggested they were part of "the most expensive form of energy."
"I restricted windmills in the United States because they also kill all your birds," the president said. "If you shoot a bald eagle in the United States, they put you in jail for five years. And windmills knock out hundreds of them. They don't do anything. Explain that."
Starmer said in the U.K, "we believe in a mix" of energy, including oil and gas and renewables.
The new golf course is the third owned by the Trump Organization in Scotland. Mr. Trump bought Turnberry in 2014 and owns another course near Aberdeen that opened in 2012.
Mr. Trump golfed at Turnberry on Saturday as protesters took to the streets, and on Sunday. He invited Starmer, who famously doesn't golf, aboard Air Force One so the prime minister could get a private tour of his Aberdeen properties before Tuesday's ceremonial opening.
"Even if you play badly, it's still good," Mr. Trump said of golfing on his course over the weekend. "If you had a bad day on the golf course, it's OK. It's better than other days."
Mr. Trump also found time to to praise Turnberry's renovated ballroom, which he said he'd paid lavishly to upgrade - even suggesting that he might install one like it at the White House.
"I could take this one, drop it right down there," Mr. Trump joked. "And it would be beautiful."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man to swim, cycle and run around Isle of Wight three times in 72 hours
An endurance athlete is set to tackle a world-first feat for charity. Matthew Dawson will circumnavigate the Isle of Wight three times in 72 hours, with one lap each dedicated to swimming, cycling, and running. His bold mission is aimed at raising funds for Access Sport, a national charity that champions inclusive community sports. The challenge, starting on August 23, will see Matthew cover more than 310km, including a 100km open water swim, a 105km road cycle, and a 107km ultra-marathon. Charity triathlon to push physical limits while championing inclusivity in sport (Image: Access Sport) Matthew said: "This challenge isn't about me, it's about the young people who deserve better access to inclusive community sport. "Every donation helps create safe, welcoming spaces for children who've been left out for too long." The funds raised will contribute towards Access Sport's goal of supporting 50,000 young people annually by 2027. The charity focuses on empowering disabled and disadvantaged young people. READ MORE: Blind man undertakes seafront walk with 'world's longest' white cane for charity Matthew, who is also a trustee for Access Sport, is receiving support from several sponsors for his record-breaking attempt, including Inov8, Moorlake Campervans, Ruislip Appliances, RS Marine Group, Seaview Yacht Club, and PredictWind. Helen Rowbotham, chief executive of Access Sport, said: "Matthew's commitment to pushing the limits for such an important cause is truly inspiring. "His efforts will directly help us reach more children who are currently excluded from the life-changing benefits of community sport. "We're so proud to have him taking on this challenge for Access Sport." To support Matthew and Access Sport, people can make donations on their website.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The 'prettiest' Berks village with Michelin-stars that is home to iconic actor
A pretty riverside parish in Berkshire that has fine dining and quaint cottages is a favourite among the stars. Not only is Bray home to some of the most awarded restaurants in the county, but it was also named as one of the prettiest places to live in the UK by the Telegraph. It's no wonder that the rich and famous choose to move to the area, with one film icon happily calling it home. Michael Caine made Berkshire his home, living in the quiet village of Bray, having previously lived In Surrey, Oxfordshire and the US. The award-winning actor also lived in Windsor in the 1960s, in a home called the Old Mill House, which stood at the end of Mill Lane. Caine lived in the house for a while but he later sold it to the rockstar Jimmy Page from the band Led Zeppelin, according to Berkshire Live. Who else famous lives in Bray? Aside from Caine, there's celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal and BBC presenter Carol Kirkwood. Visit Thames states: 'Bray, with a three-mile frontage on the Thames between Maidenhead and Windsor, has become a very popular stopping place for visitors to the Royal Borough as it features a wealth of cottages and houses, fine dining and attractive riverbank properties. 'As well as Bray's country charm the village offers a choice of excellent restaurants namely the three Michelin-starred Waterside Inn and Fat Duck and Heston's 2AA Rosette The Crown.' The parish of Bray incorporates a collection of villages and hamlets including Fifield, Holyport, Oakley Green, Stud Green, Braywick, Touchen End, Braywood and Moneyrow Green. Recommended Reading: Berkshire market town among most expensive to buy a house 10 best places to live in Berkshire by Muddy Stilettos Where does George Clooney live? From Hollywood to Berks pubs What is there to do in Bray? Visit Thames recommends that you relax with a skippered yacht or enjoy dining at Bray Marina with some Mediterranean or Italian food. There's also Monkey Island Estate, a luxury hotel on a private island, which is the 'perfect base to explore the area'. Windsor Castle, which is one of the most-visited attractions in the UK, is also a short distance from Bray.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
£1 million Inactivity Trailblazer to help York people back into work
A project backed by around £1 million aiming to get more York people into work will focus on people with mental health issues, disabilities, veterans, and early retirees under council plans. Plans for Inactivity Trailblazer funding include helping the unemployed gain skills through archaeology and construction programmes, workplace health checks and help to move young people into work or further education. Cllr Pete Kilbane, York Council's Labour deputy leader and economy spokesperson, said it was a bold step to unlocking hidden talent and ensuring no-one is left behind. But disability rights activist Flick Williams has claimed attempts to remove barriers to work facing those in ill health would not address employers' unwillingness to take them on. It comes as proposals for the £1 million project are set to go before councillors for a decision on Tuesday, August 5. Cllr Pete Kilbane, Labour deputy leader and economy executive member on York Council. Picture is from York Council The funding is part of the £10 million given to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority by the Government to trial efforts to tackle long-term joblessness. The announcement that the region was among eight selected to host Inactivity Trailblazer programmes came as part of wider Government plans to reform the welfare system unveiled in November. They included plans to cut disability benefits which originally aimed to save £5 billion by 2030 but provoked a backlash, leading to them being watered down. RECOMMENDED READING: Library in York to receive £390,000 boost to improve its facilities Plans to close £18.5m shortfall for York Station Gateway scheme approved Tougher restrictions on holiday lets needed amid York housing shortage - council boss Employment Minister Alison McGovern told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in March the Trailblazer and wider reforms aimed to stop people out of work being left on the scrapheap. Official figures show that in York and North Yorkshire, economic inactivity due to long-term sickness rose by 72.2 per cent between 2019 and last year. Government figures show around one in eight young people nationally are not in work, education or training. A York Council report on plans to spend its £1,038,250 share of regional Trailblazer funding stated the situation locally was generally better than national picture. Almost one in five working age people in York, 19.8 per cent, are economically inactive compared to the English average of 21.1 per cent according to council figures. Locally, 5,900 people aged between 16 and 64 are out of work due to health issues but 77.3 per cent of those with physical or long-term conditions are in work. That compares to 65.3 per cent nationally. Plans to spend the Trailblazer funding in York include spending £120,000 to recruit two new Opportunities Brokers who would help people address barriers hindering them getting into work. Supported Pathways helping people into work or with wellbeing through the local Archaeology on Prescription programme and construction skills training is set for £175,000. Tailored support for young carers would receive £18,750, with help getting 16 to 25 year olds with social, emotional or mental health needs into working, learning and training getting £37,500. A programme encouraging early retirees or those considering leaving work before they reach pension age into vacant jobs in the council, further education and other areas would get £62,500. Improving access to jobs for veterans would be backed by £18,750, with Mental Health hubs and talking therapy to support people with severe issues would get £250,000. Efforts to draw together best practice from businesses to create a package of support for employment and recruitment would receive £100,000. A total of 15 schemes specific to York are set to be supported by the one-off funding which runs until the end of March. Council Deputy Leader Cllr Pete Kilbane said it aligned with the authority's ambition to create jobs and grow the local economy. Council Public Health Director Peter Roderick said it was an opportunity to make a difference to lives of those facing barriers to employment due to their health or personal circumstances. Mr Roderick said: 'We're proud to be delivering a programme that puts people first—offering tailored support, improving wellbeing, and helping individuals find meaningful work.' But activist Ms Williams said it the reason many disabled people and carers were out of work was because it was harder for them to get and keep a job. Speaking previously about the proposals, she said: 'If you had spoken to disabled people you may have learned about barriers to work such as inaccessible, unreliable, irregular transport, lack of accessible housing, barriers to obtaining mobility aids, social care support and timely healthcare. 'Where are all the employers willing to employ us, ready to make reasonable adjustments, offer the flexibility to employees to manage our impairment issues, health appointments or caring responsibilities?'
