Golf Over Gaza? Trump Opens New Course in Scotland Amid Global Chaos

 

Trump Opens Scottish Golf Course Amid Global Tensions and Controversies

Published on Blogger | July 2025

While the world faces intensifying crises in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as economic uncertainty at home, US President Donald Trump has taken time out to visit Scotland — not for diplomacy, but to open a new golf course.

Trump touched down in the country of his mother's birth for a four-day trip that includes stops at both of his Scottish properties: the iconic Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire and his Menie estate in Aberdeenshire, where he officially unveiled a new 18-hole course.

Despite mounting political pressure and international concerns — including renewed attention on his past association with Jeffrey Epstein — Trump's visit has sparked both praise and protest across the UK.

A Presidential Golf Trip with Business Overtones

The trip is notable because sitting US presidents rarely engage in such direct promotion of personal businesses while in office. The White House, however, stated that Trump's itinerary includes a meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss trade, as well as a meeting with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Trump's connection to Scotland is well known. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on the Isle of Lewis before emigrating to the United States during the Great Depression. Trump has long embraced his Scottish heritage — often intertwining it with business ventures.

High Security and Even Higher Controversy

The scale of the visit has triggered a massive security operation. Military aircraft carrying Marine One and other presidential hardware were spotted at Aberdeen and Prestwick airports. Roads around the golf estates have been closed, and airspace restrictions enforced.

But the trip comes at a cost. A former senior police official estimated the price of policing could top £5 million, raising questions about the strain on Police Scotland's already stretched resources.

Protests are expected in both Aberdeen and Edinburgh, where anti-Trump demonstrators plan to voice their disapproval, echoing scenes from Trump's 2018 visit when a protester paraglided into restricted airspace over Turnberry.

From Oil Debates to Wind Turbines

While Trump's visit is not part of an official state tour, it has stirred political waters. He's rekindled tensions over Scotland's energy future, calling on Aberdeen to "get rid of the windmills and bring back the oil."

Environmental groups and opposition politicians were quick to push back. Uplift, a campaign group, called Trump's remarks "disconnected from reality".

The president's disdain for renewable energy — particularly offshore wind farms — is longstanding. Trump once told Scottish lawmakers that turbines near his Menie golf resort would "destroy Scotland", even declaring, "I have the evidence."

Despite his opposition, the wind farm was built and remains visible from the course.

Seeking Prestige in the Rough

Trump's Turnberry resort remains one of the most prestigious golfing venues in the UK, but it has not hosted the Open Championship since he bought it in 2014 — a sore point for the president. The R&A, golf's governing body, has cited logistical issues, although critics suspect political optics play a role.

Ten years after seizing control of the Republican Party and serving two non-consecutive terms in office, Trump still appears eager to cement his status not just in politics, but in golf.