Trump Returns to Scotland: A Homeland Divided by Legacy and Controversy
So, Donald Trump is heading back to Scotland—a place he often calls home, at least in sentiment. It’s where his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born and raised before she emigrated to the U.S. in 1930. Trump has never missed an opportunity to remind the world of this connection, and now he’s set to open a new 18-hole golf course at his Menie Estate resort in Aberdeenshire, right on the dramatic North Sea coast.
But let’s not get carried away with romanticized homecomings. Trump’s relationship with Scotland is anything but a feel-good tale of ancestral return. While his mother was a Gaelic-speaking native of the Isle of Lewis, and her ties to Scotland were deep and genuine, the former president's track record here has left a mixed—if not outright sour—taste for many Scots.
It all began in 2006 when Trump landed in Scotland, pitching the idea of building "the world’s greatest golf course." He claimed it was a tribute to his mother, and many locals and politicians welcomed the idea at first. After all, foreign investment is hard to come by, and the Trump brand—at that time—still carried weight. But things went south quickly. The land he chose was a Site of Special Scientific Interest, one of the UK’s finest sand dune systems. Despite environmental warnings and opposition from local councils, Scottish government ministers approved the project, citing economic benefits.
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What followed was years of conflict. Trump’s treatment of local landowners, like Michael Forbes and David Milne—who refused to sell their homes—drew widespread condemnation. At one point, Trump called Forbes' property a "pig-like atmosphere" and said he wanted Milne’s house "gone" because it was "ugly." These residents became symbols of resistance and were even celebrated by critics of Trump.
The environmental damage, broken development promises, and combative attitude led to a hardening of public opinion. A recent poll showed that around 70% of Scots view him unfavorably. Despite promises of a £1 billion investment, job creation has fallen drastically short, and the Menie resort itself has yet to turn a profit.
Even Turnberry—Trump’s other major golf holding in Scotland—hasn’t escaped the controversy. Despite its historic prestige, the Open Championship has avoided the venue since Trump’s name became synonymous with political division and global unrest. Recent protests there have made it a magnet for political expression rather than just golf tourism.
And yet, Trump continues to double down on Scotland as part of his brand identity. His upcoming visit might be aimed at reinforcing that connection, but make no mistake: this isn't a universally warm welcome. His return may reignite protests, fuel political debate, and once again spotlight the long, uneasy relationship between the Trump brand and the Scottish people.
So as the bagpipes sound once more and cameras follow his every move, Scotland braces not for a hero’s return—but for another chapter in a long, complicated saga. Trump may feel at home, but many here would argue it’s a home he's never really understood.
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