Latest news with #Aberdeenshire
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Trump opens Scottish golf course and vows 'peaceful world'
Donald Trump officially opened his new golf course in Scotland on Tuesday, ending a five-day trip in which the US president signed a major trade deal with the EU and gave Russia less than two weeks to end the Ukraine war. To the sound of bagpipes, secret agents and golfers criss-crossed the sprawling complex on the Aberdeenshire coast, waiting for the president to tee off. "We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful, and the area has ... really, really welcomed us," Trump said before cutting the ribbon. "We'll play it very quickly, and then I go back to (Washington) DC and we put out fires all over the world," he added. "We have a world that's got some conflict, but we've ironed out a lot of it. We're gonna have a great and peaceful world." Trump's campaign song, the Village People's "YMCA", blared out after the ribbon cutting, as fireworks exploded in the background. The president then teed off with son Eric, who led the project. "This will be a tremendously successful place and a place where people can come and enjoy life," the US leader said, highlighting how his trip has again blurred the lines between his presidency and his business interests. "We wanted this to be the greatest 36 holes anywhere on Earth. And there's no question that that's been achieved," said Eric Trump. "This was his Mona Lisa," he said of his father's connection with the course. "Sculpting the dunes, sculpting the land, that was always his painting," he added. The new course features the world's largest natural bunker, dunes and greens overlooking the sea, with a "focus on environmental sensitivity", said a press release. Visible out to sea were the offshore wind turbines that Trump unsuccessfully tried to block. The president again spoke out against wind power as he hosted European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. It was one of the many issues Trump addressed during free-wheeling press conferences at his other golf complex in Turnberry, western Scotland over the past days. With Von der Leyen, he announced a trade agreement in which the EU resigned itself to 15 per cent tariffs on goods entering the United States, a deal heavily criticised across the continent. At a press conference Monday with Starmer, Trump promised more aid for Gaza, gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a "10 or 12 day" ultimatum to cease hostilities in Ukraine. "I really felt it was going to end. But every time I think it's going to end he kills people," Trump said of the Russian leader. "I'm not so interested in talking (to him) anymore," he added. Trump also criticised London mayor Sadiq Khan at the press conference and waded back into UK politics on Tuesday when he took to his Truth Social platform to urge the government to cut taxes and incentivise oil drilling in the North Sea, denouncing wind turbines as "ugly monsters". "Incentivise the drillers, FAST. A VAST FORTUNE TO BE MADE for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people," he wrote. Trump played golf at Turnberry on Saturday and Sunday on a visit that mixed leisure with diplomacy. He is to fly back to Washington on Tuesday.
Malay Mail
10 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Trump opens Scottish golf course and vows ‘peaceful world'
BALMEDIE (United Kingdom), July 29 — Donald Trump officially opened his new golf course in Scotland today, ending a five-day trip in which the US president signed a major trade deal with the EU and gave Russia less than two weeks to end the Ukraine war. To the sound of bagpipes, secret agents and golfers criss-crossed the sprawling complex on the Aberdeenshire coast, waiting for the president to tee off. 'We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful, and the area has... really, really welcomed us,' Trump said before cutting the ribbon. 'We'll play it very quickly, and then I go back to (Washington) DC and we put out fires all over the world,' he added. 'We have a world that's got some conflict, but we've ironed out a lot of it. We're gonna have a great and peaceful world.' Trump's campaign song, the Village People's 'YMCA', blared out after the ribbon cutting, as fireworks exploded in the background. The president then teed off with son Eric, who led the project. 'This will be a tremendously successful place and a place where people can come and enjoy life,' the US leader said, highlighting how his trip has again blurred the lines between his presidency and his business interests. 'We wanted this to be the greatest 36 holes anywhere on Earth. And there's no question that that's been achieved,' said Eric Trump. 'This was his Mona Lisa,' he said of his father's connection with the course. 'Sculpting the dunes, sculpting the land, that was always his painting,' he added. Trade deal The new course features the world's largest natural bunker, dunes and greens overlooking the sea, with a 'focus on environmental sensitivity', said a press release. Visible out to sea were the offshore wind turbines that Trump unsuccessfully tried to block. The president again spoke out against wind power as he hosted European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday. It was one of the many issues Trump addressed during free-wheeling press conferences at his other golf complex in Turnberry, western Scotland over the past days. With Von der Leyen, he announced a trade agreement in which the EU resigned itself to 15 percent tariffs on goods entering the United States, a deal heavily criticised across the continent. At a press conference Monday with Starmer, Trump promised more aid for Gaza, gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a '10 or 12 day' ultimatum to cease hostilities in Ukraine. 'I really felt it was going to end. But every time I think it's going to end he kills people,' Trump said of the Russian leader. 'I'm not so interested in talking (to him) anymore,' he added. Trump also criticised London mayor Sadiq Khan at the press conference and waded back into UK politics on Tuesday when he took to his Truth Social platform to urge the government to cut taxes and incentivise oil drilling in the North Sea, denouncing wind turbines as 'ugly monsters'. 'Incentivize the drillers, FAST. A VAST FORTUNE TO BE MADE for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people,' he wrote. Trump played golf at Turnberry on Saturday and Sunday on a visit that mixed leisure with diplomacy. He is to fly back to Washington today. — AFP
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump opens his new Scottish golf course before return to US to ‘put out fires'
Donald Trump has officially opened a new golf course at his Aberdeenshire resort, saying he would play a quick round before returning to Washington to 'put out fires all over the world'. The US president teed off at The New Course in Menie in front of a crowd including golfers, the Scottish First Minister and the Scottish Labour leader. Mr Trump also made reference to late James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery's reported support for his golf resort – even attempting to recreate the actor's voice. Just before hitting the first ball at the New Course, the US president told those gathered on a grandstand: 'We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful. 'The area has really welcomed us. If you remember at the beginning there wasn't quite a welcome, but it wasn't bad. 'But with time they liked us more and more, now they love us and we love them.' Mr Trump added: 'I look forward to playing it today. 'We'll play it very quickly and then I go back to DC and we put out fires all over the world. 'We did one yesterday – you know we stopped the war. We've stopped about five wars. 'That's much more important than playing golf. As much as I like it, it's much more important.' At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the president thanked his son Eric for his role in creating the new 18-hole course, adding: '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 at a private dinner, and the two had a more formal meeting on Tuesday ahead of the course opening. This meeting is understood to have focused on Scotch whisky tariffs and the situation in Gaza. Mr Trump will head back to the US later on Tuesday on Air Force One, as his Scottish visit comes to a close. Construction of the new course in Menie began in 2023, with Mr Trump and his son Eric breaking ground on the project. Trump International Scotland claims the two courses will be the 'greatest 36 holes in golf'. Critics say the Trump developments in Scotland have not delivered as many jobs as promised and work at the Menie site has caused environmental damage. Members of the media watched the opening ceremony from a grandstand, with music played beforehand including Roxanne, Thriller, and Surfin' USA, plus music by the Script and Elvis. The president has already played several rounds of golf during his Scottish trip, teeing off at his other resort in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump hit out at the UK's taxes on North Sea oil, saying the natural resource is a 'treasure chest' for the country. He wrote on Truth Social: 'They have essentially told drillers and oil companies that, 'we don't want you'. 'Incentivize the drillers, fast. 'A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people!' The US president's fifth and final day in Scotland on Tuesday follows a meeting and press conference with Sir Keir Starmer on Monday. As they met at Turnberry for bilateral talks on trade and the situation in Gaza, Mr Trump and Sir Keir took part in what proved to be a lengthy media event, with the president discussing a number of topics. The Republican Party leader spoke of his 'great love' for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation 'thrive'. The president also hosted a dinner at Menie with members of his family and guests including the Prime Minister. A demonstration took place in Balmedie, near the resort, on Monday. A small number of protesters sat at the roadside in the centre of the village, surrounded by cardboard signs bearing anti-Trump slogans.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump hails Swinney as ‘terrific guy' at Aberdeenshire golf course opening
Donald Trump hailed John Swinney as a 'terrific guy' after a brief meeting with the First Minister ahead of the official opening of his new golf course in Aberdeenshire. The Scottish Government said the SNP leader and the US President discussed the situation in Gaza, and posed for photographs in front of a saltire and the Stars and Stripes. READ MORE Trump to open new golf course on final day in Scotland Trump hints at whisky deal as he talks of 'great love' for Scotland during visit Bagpipes, ballrooms and bluster: the day Trump came to Turnberry In a short speech before cutting the ribbon on the first tee, Mr Trump asked Mr Swinney to stand up. "The First Minister is here. John, would you stand up? John Swinney is a terrific guy who loves golf, loves the people of this country, and we really appreciated it. Thank you for everything, John." The pair had met on Monday night as part of a business dinner at the course, which was also attended by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. During the ceremony, Mr Trump also spoke about Sean Connery's support for his Menie course, saying the James Bond star's backing helped overcome planning issues. 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 and I were talking about that last night." (Image: Colin Mearns/NQ) Mr Trump was the first to tee off. He said he would have a quick game before returning to Washington to "put out fires all over the world". "We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful. "The area has really welcomed us. If you remember at the beginning there wasn't quite a welcome, but it wasn't bad. "But with time they liked us more and more, now they love us and we love them." Mr Trump added: "I look forward to playing it today. "We'll play it very quickly and then I go back to DC and we put out fires all over the world. "We did one yesterday – you know we stopped the war. We've stopped about five wars. "That's much more important than playing golf. As much as I like it, it's much more important." READ MORE Donald Trump responds to John Swinney's new plan for independence vote Train operator to extend London to Edinburgh services to Glasgow Cost of investigation into SNP finances soars to £2.7 million The President has played a number of rounds of golf during his Scottish trip, spending time at his other resort in Turnberry. He held a bilateral with Sir Keir at the South Ayrshire course on Monday, where he also held a lengthy press conference. There, the President spoke of his "great love" for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation "thrive". He was asked about Mr Swinney's plan for a second vote on the constitution. The First Minister said on Monday that the precedent set by the [[SNP]]'s 2011 election victory, when they won an unprecedented majority in Holyrood, would break the "logjam". He said there should be a "legal referendum recognised by all" on Scottish independence if the [[SNP]] manages the same feat at next year's [[Holyrood]] election. "We demonstrated how we break the logjam in the past, by electing a majority of SNP MSPs in 2011, and that led to an independence referendum in 2014," he told reporters. He invited supporters of independence to back his party in the constituency vote and to "demand independence" in the regional vote. Asked about the First Minister's proposal, the President said he did not want to "get involved" in Britain's domestic politics. "We got enough politics of our own," he added. He also claimed he had correctly predicted the result of the 2014 referendum, and suggested there should be a sizeable gap between votes. He told journalists: "I do say that when they made that deal, somebody said that it was – and I remember this very distinctly, I said, 'Could they do this all the time?' – there was a little bit of a restriction, like 50 or 75 years before you could take another vote. Because, you know, a country can't go through that too much."
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Starmer's green taxes could destroy North Sea oil, Trump claims
Donald Trump lashed out at Keir Starmer over taxes on North Sea oil and gas today in his latest lecture to the Prime Minister about how he runs Britain. The day after pouring praise over Sir Keir as they met face-to-face in Scotland the president took to social media to complain about levies on fossil fuels, saying they are 'so high ... it makes no sense'. 'North Sea Oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom,' he said. 'The taxes are so high, however, that it makes no sense. They have essentially told drillers and oil companies that, ''we don't want you''. 'Incentivize the drillers, fast. A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people!' Mr Trump will cut the ribbon on a second 18-hole course at his resort in Menie, Aberdeenshire before he flies back to the US on Air Force One. The president has played several rounds of golf during his Scottish trip, teeing off at his other resort in Turnberry, Ayrshire, on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. As they met at Turnberry for bilateral talks on trade and the situation in Gaza, Mr Trump and Sir Keir took part in what proved to be a lengthy press conference, with the president discussing a number of topics. The Republican Party leader spoke of his 'great love' for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation 'thrive'. The PM stood up for green energy, saying: 'We believe in a mix, and obviously oil and gas will be with us for a very long time, and that'll be part of the mix, but also wind, solar, increasingly nuclear (power),' he said. Trump also used the wide-ranging press conference to advise his 'not too liberal' friend to cut taxes and immigration if he wanted to beat Nigel Farage at the next election. Without any awkwardness about playing one mate off against the other the president used the hour-long televised bromantic encounter on the plane to tell the PM to cut taxes and stop 'murderers and drug dealers' from coming to Britain. While Sir Keir sat beside him, barely speaking and with an impassive look on his face, he was full of praise for the Prime Minister and the way he was running the country, despite their ideological differences, saying Sir Keir was was 'liberal ..but not too liberal' in his approach. Mr Trump added: 'I think the one that's toughest and most competent on immigration is going to win the election, but then you add… low taxes, and you add the economy. (Sir Keir) did a great thing with the economy, because a lot of money is going to come in because of the deal that was made. But I think that, I think that immigration is now bigger than ever before.'
