Donald Trump thanks Sean Connery as he opens his second golf course in Aberdeenshire
Donald Trump paid tribute to the late Scots acting legend Sean Connery as he opened his new golf course in Aberdeenshire today.
Speaking on the first tee, the US President made a pointed reference to the high-profile planning row in the mid-2000s which delayed the opening of Trump International Golf Links. And the Republican leader also praised First Minister John Swinney as a "terrific guy" after having dinner with him last night.
Trump told invited guests and media at his Menie Estate: "I was just want to thank everybody, this has been an unbelievable development. The land, they said, 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 it last night."
Connery reportedly said in 2008: "During tough economic times, this is a major vote of confidence in Scotland's tourist industry and our ability to rise to the challenge. I look forward to seeing a new gem in the north-east that is good for Aberdeenshire and good for Scotland.'
The Edinburgh-born actor, a huge golf fan, never played the resort before his death in 2020. David Milne, a near neighbour of the Trump golf course, later said the claim that Connery helped him land planning permission for his golf resort was 'utter bollocks'.
Swinney raised the situation in Gaza with Donald Trump during a meeting this morning, the Record understands.
The leaders spoke for around 15 minutes, before posing together for pictures in front of a US flag and the saltire of Scotland ahead of the opening of a second course at the president's golf club in Aberdeenshire.
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