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CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Trump's trip to Scotland highlights his complex relationship with his mother's homeland
TURNBERRY, Scotland — U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to Scotland this week will be a homecoming of sorts, but he's likely to get a mixed reception. Trump has had a long and at times rocky relationship with the country where his mother grew up in a humble house on a windswept isle. He will be met by both political leaders and protesters during the visit, which begins Friday and takes in his two Scottish golf resorts. It comes two months before King Charles III is due to welcome him on a formal state visit to the U.K. 'I'm not proud that he (has) Scottish heritage,' said Patricia Sloan, who lives near the Trump Turnberry course on Scotland's west coast. 'All countries have good and bad that come out of them, and if he's going to kind of wave the flag of having Scottish heritage, that's the bad part, I think.' A daughter of Scotland Trump's mother was born Mary Anne MacLeod in 1912 near the town of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, one of the Outer Hebrides off Scotland's northwest coast. 'My mother was born in Scotland — Stornoway, which is serious Scotland,' Trump said in 2017. She was raised in a large Scots Gaelic-speaking family and left for New York in 1930, one of thousands of people from the islands to emigrate in the hardscrabble years after World War I. MacLeod married the president's father, Fred C. Trump, the son of German immigrants, in New York in 1936. She died in August 2000 at the age of 88. Trump still has relatives on Lewis, and visited in 2008, spending a few minutes in the plain gray house where his mother grew up. A long golf course battle Trump's ties and troubles in Scotland are intertwined with golf. He first proposed building a course on a wild and beautiful stretch of the North Sea coast north of Aberdeen in 2006. The Trump International Scotland development was backed by the Scottish government. But it was fiercely opposed by some local residents and conservationists, who said the stretch of coastal sand dunes was home to some of the country's rarest wildlife, including skylarks, kittiwakes, badgers and otters. Local fisherman Michael Forbes became an international cause celebre after he refused the Trump Organization's offer of 350,000 pounds (US$690,000 at the time) to sell his family's rundown farm in the center of the estate. Forbes still lives on his property, which Trump once called 'a slum and a pigsty.' 'If it weren't for my mother, would I have walked away from this site? I think probably I would have, yes,' Trump said in 2008 amid the planning battle over the course. 'Possibly, had my mother not been born in Scotland, I probably wouldn't have started it.' The golf course was eventually approved and opened in 2012. Some of the grander aspects of the planned development, including 500 houses and a 450-room hotel, have not been realized, and the course has never made a profit. A second 18-hole course at the resort is scheduled to open this summer. It's named the MacLeod Course in honor of Trump's mother. There has been less controversy about Trump's other Scottish golf site, the long-established Turnberry resort in southwest Scotland, which he bought in 2014. 'He did bring employment to the area,' said Louise Robertson, who lives near Turnberry. 'I know that in terms of the hotel and the lighthouse, he spent a lot of money restoring it, so again, that was welcomed by the local people. But other than that, I can't really say positive things about it.' Trump has pushed for the British Open to be held at the course for the first time since 2009. Turnberry is one of 10 courses on the rotation to host the Open. But organizers say there are logistical issues about 'road, rail and accommodation infrastructure' that must be resolved before it can return. Protests and politicians Trump has had a rollercoaster relationship with Scottish and U.K. politicians. More than a decade ago, the Scottish government enlisted Trump as an unpaid business adviser with the GlobalScot network, a group of business leaders, entrepreneurs and executives with a connection to Scotland. It dumped him in 2015 after he called for Muslims to be banned from the U.S. The remarks also prompted Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen to revoke an honorary doctorate in business administration it had awarded Trump in 2010. This week Trump will meet left-leaning Scottish First Minister John Swinney, an erstwhile Trump critic who endorsed Kamala Harris before last year's election — a move branded an 'insult' by a spokesperson for Trump's Scottish businesses. Swinney said it's 'in Scotland's interest' for him to meet the president. Some Scots disagree, and a major police operation is being mounted during the visit in anticipation of protests. The Stop Trump Scotland group has encouraged demonstrators to come to Aberdeen and 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also expected to travel to Scotland for talks with Trump. The British leader has forged a warm relationship with Trump, who said this month 'I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he's a liberal.' They are likely to talk trade, as Starmer seeks to nail down an exemption for U.K. steel from Trump's tariffs. There is no word on whether Trump and Starmer — not a golfer — will play a round at one of the courses. ___ Jill Lawless And Kwiyeon Ha, The Associated Press Lawless reported from London
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
HebCelt hails 'most successful' year as thousands flock to Lewis
Organisers of the HebCelt music festival have hailed its "most successful year ever" after more than 18,500 fans made their way to Stornoway last event first began 28 years ago and doubles the population of the Lewis town. Scottish pop icon Lulu headlined this year, with other favourites including Skerryvore, Tide Lines, Nina Nesbitt and Eddi year's festival also had a heavy focus on female talent, with 70% of the billing made up by female artists, including locals Josie Duncan and Isla Scott. Iain Macphail, who chairs the festival, said: "Stornoway and the entire Isle of Lewis can be rightfully proud of what the festival family has achieved together."It's been the most successful festival in our history and is a testament to all those who have worked, volunteered and supported us in building what is essentially a pop-up village to deliver a best in class, internationally-renowned event."Last year, the festival was estimated to have generated £4.2m towards the local is now the third biggest music festival in Scotland behind TRNSMT and Belladrum, which takes place next weekend. Next year's HebCelt festival will take place between 15 and 18 July.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Trump visits Scotland to honor mother's roots amid golf course opening
SCOTLAND: US President Donald Trump is set to visit Scotland this week, returning to the land where his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born and raised. The trip marks a personal journey for Trump, who has often spoken fondly of his Scottish heritage. 'It's great to be home, this was the home of my mother,' Trump said during his last visit in 2023. Born in 1912 on the Isle of Lewis, MacLeod emigrated to the US at 18, later marrying Fred Trump and helping establish the family's real estate empire. Trump will officially open his newest golf course in Aberdeen, adding to his existing Scottish properties. The visit also highlights his mother's humble beginnings in Tong, a small town where the family home still stands just 200 metres from the sea. MacLeod, the youngest of 10 children, grew up speaking Gaelic before learning English. Life on Lewis was difficult post-World War I, prompting her to follow her sister's footsteps to America in 1930. She worked as a domestic helper before meeting Fred Trump at a dance, marrying him in 1936. Despite her later wealth, MacLeod remained connected to her roots, frequently visiting Lewis until her death in 2000. Trump has described her as 'a great beauty' and 'one of the most honest and charitable people I have ever known.' However, not all Scots welcome Trump's visit. Protests are planned in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with some locals displaying banners criticizing him. A Stornoway shop recently hung a sign reading, 'Shame on you Donald John,' which authorities have asked to be removed. The trip underscores Trump's deep ties to Scotland, even as his presence remains divisive. - AFP
STV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Peat & Diesel to get Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations under way
Scottish folk-rock favourites Peat & Diesel have been confirmed as headliners for Edinburgh's Hogmanay Night Afore Hoolie. The Stornoway trio will kick off the capital's world-famous New Year celebrations with a 5,000 capacity open-air show in Princes Street Gardens on December 30. They'll be joined by Ullapool accordionist Ruairidh MacLean, also known as RuMac, whose profile has been raised by recent performances on Britain's Got Talent and the movie 28 Years Later. Speaking ahead of the announcement, the band said: 'We're not just playing, we're unleashing the full force of the 'Night Afore Hoolie' to kick off your legendary Edinburgh Hogmanay Show 2025. Get ready for an absolute explosion of sound and craic that'll have the whole city jumping. 'This isn't just a gig; it's going to be the most raucous, unforgettable start to the New Year you could possibly imagine. Trust us, you won't want to miss a single second when the island madness hits the capital.' The Night Afore Hoolie forms part of a four-day programme of events across the capital. Festivities begin on December 29 with the Torchlight Procession, as thousands of torchbearers illuminate Edinburgh's streets in a spectacular river of fire. The following days feature a mix of live music and traditional ceilidhs, including the Hogmanay Ceilidh and the Bairns Hogmanay Ceilidh at the Assembly Rooms. The celebrations culminate on December 31 with the Street Party and Concert in the Gardens, ringing in the New Year with fireworks and live entertainment, followed by free live music across Edinburgh on January 1. Margaret Graham, culture and communities convener at City of Edinburgh Council, said: 'The Night Afore Hoolie is a brilliant addition to this year's Hogmanay. With Peat & Diesel and RuMac, it promises to be a night full of Scottish spirit and fantastic live music.' Al Thomson, co-director of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, added: 'We're thrilled to bring the sound of the Western Isles to Princes Street Gardens. It's going to be a brilliant way to start the celebrations.' Tickets go on sale at 10am on Saturday July 26, with a pre-sale opening at 10am Friday July 25 for those signed up at Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Al Arabiya
7 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Trump's trip to scotland highlights his complex relationship with his mother's homeland
US President Donald Trump's trip to Scotland this week will be a homecoming of sorts, but he's likely to get a mixed reception. Trump has had a long and at times rocky relationship with the country where his mother grew up in a humble house on a windswept isle. He will be met by both political leaders and protesters during the visit, which begins Friday and takes in his two Scottish golf resorts. It comes two months before King Charles III is due to welcome him on a formal state visit to the UK. A daughter of Scotland, Trump's mother was born Mary Anne MacLeod in 1912 near the town of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, one of the Outer Hebrides off Scotland's northwest coast. 'My mother was born in Scotland—Stornoway which is serious Scotland,' Trump said in 2017. She was raised in a large Scots Gaelic-speaking family and left for New York in 1930, one of thousands of people from the islands to emigrate in the hardscrabble years after World War I. MacLeod married the president's father, Fred C. Trump, the son of German immigrants, in New York in 1936. She died in August 2000 at the age of 88. Trump still has relatives on Lewis and visited in 2008, spending a few minutes in the plain gray house where his mother grew up. Trump's ties and troubles in Scotland are intertwined with golf. He first proposed building a course on a wild and beautiful stretch of the North Sea coast north of Aberdeen in 2006. The Trump International Scotland development was backed by the Scottish government, but it was fiercely opposed by some local residents and conservationists who said the stretch of coastal sand dunes was home to some of the country's rarest wildlife, including skylarks, kittiwakes, badgers, and otters. Local fisherman Michael Forbes became an international cause célèbre after he refused the Trump Organization's offer of 350,000 pounds (690,000 at the time) to sell his family's rundown farm in the center of the estate. Forbes still lives on his property, which Trump once called 'a slum' and 'a pigsty.' 'If it weren't for my mother, would I have walked away from this site? I think probably I would have yes,' Trump said in 2008 amid the planning battle over the course. 'Possibly had my mother not been born in Scotland, I probably wouldn't have started it.' The golf course was eventually approved and opened in 2012. Some of the grander aspects of the planned development, including 500 houses and a 450-room hotel, have not been realized, and the course has never made a profit. A second 18-hole course at the resort is scheduled to open this summer. It's named the MacLeod Course in honor of Trump's mother. There has been less controversy about Trump's other Scottish golf site, the long-established Turnberry resort in southwest Scotland, which he bought in 2014. He has pushed for the British Open to be held at the course for the first time since 2009. Turnberry is one of 10 courses on the rotation to host the Open, but organizers say there are logistical issues about road, rail, and accommodation infrastructure that must be resolved before it can return. Trump has had a rollercoaster relationship with Scottish and UK politicians. More than a decade ago, the Scottish government enlisted Trump as an unpaid business adviser with the GlobalScot network, a group of business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives with a connection to Scotland. It dumped him in 2015 after he called for Muslims to be banned from the US. The remarks also prompted Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen to revoke an honorary doctorate in business administration it had awarded Trump in 2010. This week, Trump will meet left-leaning Scottish First Minister John Swinney, an erstwhile Trump critic who endorsed Kamala Harris before last year's election—a move branded 'an insult' by a spokesperson for Trump's Scottish businesses. Swinney said it's in Scotland's interest for him to meet the president. Some Scots disagree, and a major police operation is being mounted during the visit in anticipation of protests. The Stop Trump Scotland group has encouraged demonstrators to come to Aberdeen and 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also expected to travel to Scotland for talks with Trump. The British leader has forged a warm relationship with Trump, who said this month, 'I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he's a liberal.' They are likely to talk trade as Starmer seeks to nail down an exemption for UK steel from Trump's tariffs. There is no word on whether Trump and Starmer—not a golfer—will play a round at one of the courses.
