Donald Trump plays golf in Scotland as thousands protest against UK visit
The US leader was heckled by a group of activists who branded him a ‘racist’ as he teed off at Turnberry.
Donald Trump took to his Scottish golf course as thousands of people protested against the US president’s continuing visit to the UK.
The US leader was heckled by a group of activists who branded him a “racist” as he teed off at his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire with his son Eric where they are staying for two nights on the private leg of his trip.
It followed widespread protests on Friday with a large march in London and events staged in cities including Glasgow and Belfast in opposition to the president’s views and policies.
At Turnberry, protesters who had gathered on the nearby beach climbed a hill to ensure the president could see them when he took to the golf course.
Mr Trump, the 45th president of the US, waved as they shouted: “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA.”
He was dressed in navy, with a windshielder jacket with the US presidential emblem on it. Mr Trump was also wearing a white baseball cap with USA on the front in navy letters, while one side bore the American flag and the other had the number 45 on it.
In Edinburgh, crowds gathered outside the Scottish Parliament before setting off for the city’s meadows area for a Carnival of Resistance event, where the 20ft Trump baby balloon was flown.
Police Scotland said there were no arrests during the protest events on Friday and Saturday.
It comes after the president spent Friday meeting both Theresa May and the Queen on what is Mr Trump’s first visit to the UK as president.
On Saturday, Mr Trump tweeted: “I have arrived in Scotland and will be at Trump Turnberry for two days of meetings, calls and hopefully, some golf – my primary form of exercise!
“The weather is beautiful, and this place is incredible! Tomorrow I go to Helsinki for a Monday meeting with Vladimir Putin.”
A massive security operation is in place at Turnberry and Police Scotland are investigating after a paraglider flew over the area on Friday night with a sign claiming Mr Trump is “well below par”.
The incident, which took place shortly after the president and first lady had arrived, is being treated as a “breach of the air exclusion zone”, the force said.
“These demonstrations are not simply just about the politics of Donald Trump, it is about his moral values as well.”
While the protests took place Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – who is not scheduled to meet the president – led a Pride march in Glasgow.
She said she had been a “wee bit tickled” by reports Mr Trump “hates her” and has been “bitching” about her to Theresa May.
“If it is true, I suppose I should take it as a compliment, I certainly don’t spend that much time talking about him.”
Despite the widespread protests, supporters of Donald Trump gathered in London on Saturday to back a march for jailed far-right leader Tommy Robinson.
The march to Downing Street was kept at a distance from a counter-protest in Parliament Square, the day after an estimated 100,000-plus rallied through London in opposition to the US president.
Most on Saturday focused on 35-year-old Robinson, real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, who was jailed for 13 months for contempt of court after filming people involved in a criminal trial and broadcasting the footage on social media.
Some waved “Britain Loves Trump” placards, wore Mr Trump’s red Make America Great Again caps and cheered at mentions of the US leader.
