First look at Donald Trump's armoured car ‘The Beast' as President whisked off to Turnberry
The President touched down at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire tonight on his five day golfing holiday to Scotland.
4
The Beast makes its way through the Ayrshire countryside
4
The 28-strong motorcade snakes its way along the A77
4
Three ambulances were also part of the motorcade
4
Trump speaking to the media moments after he arrived
Mr Trump descended the steps of Air Force One in his signature sharp navy suit and red tie and flashing a confident wave to the crowd before speaking to the media.
Supporters gathered at Prestwick Airport cheered as his motorcade - including two identical 'Beasts' - stood ready to whisk him away to his luxury Turnberry golf resort on the Ayrshire coast.
In all, 28 vehicles were in the motorcade and the whole entourage was also led by several police outriders.
The Beast is loaded with Bond-style gadgets believed to include smoke screens and door handles rigged to send a 120-volt electric shock to ward off attackers.
It can also reportedly lay down an oil slick to send enemy vehicles spinning out of control.
Pump-action shotguns, rocket-powered grenades, night vision equipment, and tear gas grenades are all said to be on board.
Despite concerns about protests on the route, it was mainly supportive fans and intrigued locals who lined the route as the huge motorcade drove into Turnberry village.
The President is expected to enjoy a mix of business and leisure during his four-day trip, with plans to meet key political figures and officially open his new golf course at Menie in Aberdeenshire.
The President will also meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney during his Scots trip.
He was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray when he stepped off Air Force One, with the minister earlier pledging to give the American leader a "warm welcome".
Donald Trump's family plane lands in Scotland ahead of Turnberry visit
Mr Trump's presence has resulted in a significant security operation from Police Scotland and thousands of officers who are braced for mass protests around his golf courses and major Scottish cities.
High security measures have been cranked up at his golf resorts at Turnberry and Menie, Aberdeenshire, ahead of his arrival.
The ring of steel includes a strict no-fly zone at both locations.
Earlier today it is believed Mr Trump's family landed at Prestwick Airport in a Trump branded jet.
Donald Trump touches down in Scotland
Upon touching down in Scotland, Mr Trump told the world's media: "It's wonderful to be here in Scotland.
"We are going to be meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow or the next day and we are going to do some great things.
"We have numerous executives that we are going to be meeting with.
"We are going to be meeting with a lot of people. We will be staying in Turnberry and then going to Aberdeen, which is the oil capital of Europe actually."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
27 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Adopted Scot wins top diplomatic post after honing skills in East Kilbride
Alicia Herbert travelled Sudan, Nigeria, Lebanon and many other nations before being offered the post of High Commissioner to Jamaica An adopted Scot who rose to prominence in the Civil Service in Scotland has been appointed the UK's High Commissioner to Jamaica. Diplomat Alicia Herbert won praise for her roles in war-torn Sudan, taking on terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria and combating an AIDS epidemic in Mozambique. Trinidad and Tobago born Alicia won the big promotion after heading the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's joint HQ in East Kilbride since 2016. She was waved off by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, pledging that she would seek to draw Scotland's 'shared history with Jamaica to develop relations with the UK. Herbert, 57, is the UK's first Head of Mission deployed to a Caribbean post to have been born in the Caribbean. She was in charge of almost 1,000 FCDO staff in Scotland and also served as the UK's special envoy for gender equality. She said: 'I feel like my life's gone full circle. There aren't many roles could have persuaded me to leave Scotland but having first come to the UK on a scholarship, I simply couldn't resist going back to the region of my birth to represent the UK as High Commissioner to Jamaica. 'It's been such a joy to work and live in Scotland. I will of course draw on Scotland and Jamaica's shared history. 'Lots of my colleagues have been joking that I'll miss the Scottish rain, but while Kingston's a lot sunnier than East Kilbride, I've not had to worry about hurricanes much working there. 'The Caribbean is a part of the world where the climate crisis is acute with the frequency and intensity of hurricanes increasing. A huge focus of my job will be how the UK partners with the Caribbean to address how climate change is affecting the region.' Herbert acknowledged the way her job had taken her top some of the most dangerous places in the world. She said: 'I think my dear mum when she was alive did worry and ask 'You're going where?' 'I have not come under direct threat, but that threat has been there. I lived in Sudan for three years from 2006 and there was always war. A US diplomat was assassinated not too far from my house on New Year's Eve. 'I was in Nigeria when Boko Haram was just seeding and by the time I left, they had become quite a force. Boko Haram literally means 'Western education is forbidden'. 'I had colleagues working in the UN compound where 13 people were killed in a Boko Haram bomb attack in Abuja in 2011. I remember frantically sending in drivers to get our people out when they attacked Kano the same year.' Herbert said she was proud to strike a blow for women, after entering the civil service as black, female immigrant back in 1999. She said: 'Quite often I was the only woman in the room, and almost certainly, the only person of colour. Now 40 per cent of our Heads of Mission are female. 'While my appointment shows that things are heading in the right direction, there is still much to do. For example, black staff are still underrepresented at senior levels. We want people from all walks of life representing the UK internationally.'
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump briefed on NYC shooting and lauds NYPD officer ‘who made the ultimate sacrifice'
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump suggests Sir Sean Connery helped get his golf resort plans ‘into line'
Donald Trump suggested late James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery's support for his golf resort in Aberdeenshire helped him secure permission for the development. Mr Trump even attempted to recreate the late actor's voice as he addressed a crowd of invited guests and media in Menie on Tuesday. In 2008, Sir Sean described Mr Trump's proposals to develop the land in north-east Scotland as 'terrific' – though he did not know what the local impact would be. John Swinney said the controversial proposals were handled with 'due process' by the Scottish Government's planning reporter. During the final day of his trip to Scotland, Mr Trump hit the first ball at the New Course in Menie. He was joined by members of his family including his sons Donald Jnr and Eric – the latter of whom has overseen the creation of the course. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the president said: 'This has been an unbelievable development. 'The land, they said it couldn't get zoned, it was an impossibility. 'And Sean Connery said 'let the bloody bloke build his golf course'. 'Once he said that everything came into line. John (Swinney) and I were talking about that last night.' The president met First Minister Mr Swinney on Monday evening for a private dinner, and the two had a more formal meeting on Tuesday ahead of the course opening. The president also said: 'We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful.' Mr Swinney spoke to journalists about his earlier exchange with the president and the suggestion that Sir Sean helped to secure permission for the golf courses. The First Minister said it was matter of 'historical record' that two committees of Aberdeenshire Council came to different conclusions on Mr Trump's proposals, which had proved divisive in the area. Mr Swinney said that as a minister at the time he had taken a decision to 'call in' the application, with a government reporter reviewing the planning application according to 'due process'. Asked if Sir Sean had no involvement, the First Minister said: 'Well, that's an explanation of the due process.' Opponents of the development were concerned about the environmental impact and staged a high-profile campaign against the plans. In August 2008, Sir Sean spoke of his enthusiasm for Mr Trump's plans for the north-east of Scotland. He told an audience in Edinburgh he had met the businessman after the plans were announced, saying: 'I said 'Well, I think it's terrific'. 'But I had no idea what local repercussions would be. 'My first response was I couldn't see anything but benefits for that part of Scotland because it's pretty neglected, apart from the oil fields.'
