The people of Scotland have revealed their feelings on Donald Trump ahead of the president’s visit to Aberdeenshire. Trump is due to arrive in the country tomorrow for a four day visit, his first time in the UK since his re-election.
It is expected that the former reality tv star will visit his golf resorts at Turnberry on the Ayrshire coast and Menie. He is expected to meet both Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. Trump will return to the UK in September for an official state visit, the second time he has been given the honour.
His trip to Scotland will see 1,500 police officers redeployed for the visit of the president who was the victim of two assassination attempts last year.
It is also expected that he will be faced with hundreds of protesters, who are set to voice their opposition to his presence.
One Glaswegian told the National: “I feel like what he’s been doing in America with just breaking down the rule of law, just this tyranny, and authoritarianism, it just isn’t welcome in our country.
“Especially with the rise of Reform and stuff, it’s just not welcome at all.”
Another added simply: He’s a prick, man, I hate him.”
Meanwhile a young woman said: “Get him out. Why is he coming? Why are we allowing him?
“I hate Donald Trump. I don’t know why people would vote for him. The tariffs, everything. He’s taking … the abortions, obviously.”
The last visit by Trump whilst president came in 2018 and saw a huge security operation launched with protests in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
Security has been ramped up at Trump’s golf courses with security checkpoints put in place and fences erected alongside heightened police presence.
Gavin Scott, an independent councillor in Girvan, close to the president’s Turnberry course hopes that the visit can become an opportunity to showcase the area to the world, despite the appearance of the town amid enhanced security.
He told the BBC: “We’re all quite excited, although there is a bit of negativity attached over who is footing this massive security bill.
“And does he have to make the place look like one of his American prisons?”