Trump opens his new Scottish golf course before return to US to ‘put out fires'
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Spectator
10 minutes ago
- Spectator
Online Safety Act: are Labour or the Tories worse on free speech?
Is the Online Safety Act protecting children – or threatening free speech? Michael Simmons hosts John Power, who writes the Spectator's cover piece this week on how the Act has inadvertently created online censorship. Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2023 – which Labour did not support at the time, arguing it didn't go far enough. Michael and John joined by former Conservative MP Miriam Cates who defends the core aims and principles at the heart of the Act. They debate the principles of Big Tech, the risks of government overreach and whether freedom of expression is under threat. Produced by Megan McElroy and Patrick Gibbons.
Daily Record
10 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Murrayfield capacity, seating plan, and food & drink options ahead of Oasis gigs
Up to 200,000 fans will descend on Murrayfield Stadium on August 8, 9, and 12 to hear classics like 'Wonderwall' and 'Live Forever'. The Oasis reunion tour is officially underway and it will not be long until they hitch up in the Scottish capital. Up to 200,000 fans will be entertained by the Britpop icons across three nights, which are sure to be jam-packed with classics and much-loved hits. Liam and Noel Gallagher have put their differences aside to reunite after 16 years and the first few legs of the tour have already been played, including two nights at Wembley Stadium, which the Record reviewed here. On August 8, 9, and 12, hundreds of thousands of music fans will descend on Murrayfield Stadium to hear tunes like 'Wonderwall' and 'Live Forever'. But what food and drink options are in store? And how many people does Murrayfield hold? Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium has a seated capacity of 67,144 which is the largest in Scotland. This means that across Oasis' three sold-out shows in Edinburgh, more than a whopping 200,000 people will be in attendance. The venue is the home of Scottish rugby but when major artists are in town, it transforms into a major musical spectacle. Kendrick Lamar and SZA are the most recent talents to have lit up the Murrayfield stage. Wondering where you can grab a bite to eat and get a few drinks in before the night kicks off? Murrayfield has an extensive list of food and beverage options dotted throughout the grounds. If you're a spirit lover, head to the Edinburgh Gin Bar and take your pick from a range of flavoured and standard gins. If a good old fashioned pint is more up your street, there are various bars, and a Guinness Bar for your enjoyment. If prosecco is your tipple, there is also a bar to accommodate that. Food-wise, there are so many cuisines to choose from, from Japanese to Greek and from Italian to Indian. There is no doubt about it - you'll be fed and watered. The venue even caters to specific dietary requirements and allergens, with meat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, halal and vegan options. There is also gluten-free lager and non-alcoholic lager available from all bar locations. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. North Food & Drink Burger and Fries Japanese Katsu Salt & Chilli Chicken Fish & Chips Greek Street Food Coffee & Doughnuts Loaded Burgers Woodfired Pizza Smash Burgers The North Bar The North-West Bar Guinness Bar Roseburn Cr. Italian Street Food Parmo Loaded Fries Greek Street Food Churros & Coffee Woodfired Pizza Ice Cream Indian Street Food Pick 'N' Mix The Upper-East Con- Coffee & Doughnuts Loaded Burgers Course Bar The Clocktower Bar South Food & Drink Loaded Fries Fish & Chips Game Pies Burger & Fries Fried Chicken Coffee & Churros Chicken & Chips The South Bar Chicken Wings West Fan Village Loaded Wraps Barista Coffee Mexican Street Food Burger & Fries Pick & Mix Woodfired Pizza Loaded Dogs Gyros Smash Burgers West Container Bar Greek Street Food The West Bottle Bar Duck Wraps Costa Coffee Fried Chicken Hog Roast Edinburgh Gin Bar The Prosecco Bar Guinness Bar
Reuters
41 minutes ago
- Reuters
US appeals court keeps bar on Los Angeles federal immigration arrests
Aug 2 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court late on Friday affirmed a lower court's decision temporarily barring U.S. government agents from making immigration-related arrests in Los Angeles without probable cause. Rejecting the Trump administration's request to pause the lower court's order, the three-judge appeals panel ruled that the plaintiffs would likely be able to prove that federal agents had carried out arrests based on peoples' appearance, language and where they lived or worked. President Donald Trump called National Guard troops and U.S. Marines into Los Angeles in June in response to protests against the immigration raids, marking an extraordinary use of military force to support civilian police operations within the United States. The city of Los Angeles and other Southern California municipalities joined a lawsuit filed in June by the American Civil Liberties Union accusing federal agents of using unlawful police tactics such as racial profiling to meet immigration arrest quotas set by the administration. A California judge last month blocked the Trump administration from racially profiling immigrants as it seeks deportation targets and from denying immigrants' right to access to lawyers during their detention. In Friday's unsigned decision, the judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit largely rejected the administration's appeal of the temporary restraining order. The judges agreed with the lower court in blocking federal officials from detaining people based solely on "apparent race or ethnicity," speaking Spanish or accented English, or being at locations such as a "bus stop, car wash, tow yard, day laborer pick up site, agricultural site, etc." The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the order a victory for the city. "The Temporary Restraining Order that has been protecting our communities from immigration agents using racial profiling and other illegal tactics when conducting their cruel and aggressive enforcement raids and sweeps will remain in place for now," she said in a statement. Mohammad Tajsar, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, welcomed the ruling in statement: "This decision is further confirmation that the administration's paramilitary invasion of Los Angeles violated the Constitution and caused irreparable injury across the region."
