Trump Caps His Scottish Visit by Opening a New Golf Course
'Let's go. 1-2-3,' Trump said before he cut a red ribbon and fireworks popped to mark the official opening of the new Trump course in the village of Balmedie on Scotland's northern coast.
'This has been an unbelievable development,' Trump said before the opening. He thanked his son Eric for his work on the project, saying it was 'truly a labor of love for him.' Son Don Jr. also was present.
Immediately after the opening, Trump, Eric Trump and two professional golfers in the foursome teed off on the first hole. They planned to play 18 holes before Trump returns to Washington.
The overseas jaunt let Trump escape Washington's sweaty summer humidity. It was mostly built around golf — and walking the new course before it officially begins offering rounds to the public on Aug. 13.
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 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 Trump's 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 were 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,' 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.'
Trump used his trip to meet with Starmer and reach a trade framework for tariffs between the US 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.
Trump's assets are in a trust, and his sons are running the family business while he's in the White House.
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 Trump sued to block construction of in 2013.
The new golf course will be the third owned by the Trump Organization in Scotland. Trump bought Turnberry in 2014 and owns another course near Aberdeen that opened in 2012.
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,' 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.'
Trump also found time 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," Trump joked. 'And it would be beautiful.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Netherlands to start NATO's new Ukraine weapons finance scheme with $578 mln payment
The Netherlands will be the first contributor to NATO's new 'Priority Ukraine Requirements List' (PURL) financing mechanism for Ukraine weapons with a 500 million euros ($578 million) payment, the Dutch defense minister said on Monday. 'Ukraine needs more air defense and ammunition now. As the first NATO ally, the Netherlands will deliver a 500 million package of US weapon systems (including Patriot parts and missiles),' Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said in a statement on X. 'This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression,' he added. In a statement posted on the Dutch defense ministry website, the ministry said that other countries have also pledged financing under the new mechanism. The defense ministry said that under the new scheme, Ukraine can draw on US military equipment stocks if these are funded by NATO allies. The United States is releasing military aid in packages worth approximately $500 million, it said, adding that the packages consist of air defense equipment, ammunition and other essential supplies tailored to Ukraine's needs. US President Donald Trump said last month the US would supply weapons to Ukraine, paid for by European allies, but did not provide details on how this would work. Reuters reported on Friday that NATO countries, Ukraine, and the US were developing a new Ukraine weapons financing mechanism.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
UK summer storm sows travel chaos
LONDON: High-speed winds disrupted trains and blew over trees in Scotland and northern England where residents were advised against traveling as an 'unusually' fierce summer storm hit the UK on Monday. Meteorologists warned that gusts could reach a record-breaking 145 kilometers per hour (90 miles per hour) as Storm Floris made landfall overnight. The second-most serious amber wind warning was in place across swathes of Scotland as officials sought to minimize damage. 'Storm Floris is an unusually strong storm for the time of year,' the UK's Meteorological Office said in a statement. The Met Office said it was only the third time an amber wind warning had been issued in August since the system launched in 2011, adding some gusts in Scotland were 'likely' to beat records. Scientists say human-induced climate change is driving more intense and frequent extreme weather events around the globe, as the planet continues to warm. Several train operators in northern England and Scotland canceled services, warning passengers not to make their journeys. A tree was removed after it fell onto overhead railway wires in Glasgow, causing a fire, according to Network Rail Scotland. Multiple trees were also blown over in the northeastern Scottish region of Aberdeenshire, blocking roads. In Scotland's capital, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo marching parade was canceled and Edinburgh Zoo said it would be closed for the day. Storm Floris is the second named storm to hit the UK this year, and the sixth one this storm season, which will run from early September 2024 to late August 2025.
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump says he will ‘substantially' raise tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he will substantially raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. 'Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.'
