Trump Faces Massive Protests in Scotland Amid Trade Talks Planned at His Golf Resorts

When Donald Trump stepped off his private jet at Turnberry on July 26, 2025, he wasn’t greeted by golfers or admirers — he was met with a sea of raised fists, Palestinian flags, and chants of "NOT MY PRESIDENT." The former U.S. president’s private visit to his Scottish golf empire ignited the largest coordinated protests in Scotland in years, with demonstrators flooding Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dumfries. What made this different wasn’t just the scale — it was the raw, personal anger. Many Scots see Trump not as a distant foreign figure, but as a homegrown betrayal. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born in Stornoway. And yet, here he was, playing golf while their government spent millions to shield him from public fury.

Protests Across Scotland: A Nation Says No

The Stop Trump Coalition didn’t just show up — they mobilized. Hundreds gathered outside the U.S. Consulate General at 3 Regent Terrace in Edinburgh at 4:00 PM UTC on July 27, holding signs that read "Genocide in Palestine" and "No Tariffs, No War." In Aberdeen, protesters stood near the Menie Estate Trump International Golf Links, where Trump’s 2010 development destroyed dunes and displaced local wildlife. In Dumfries, a quieter but no less determined crowd gathered near the town’s historic square. "He shouldn’t be here," one demonstrator told CNN-News18. "You know, we shouldn’t give him airtime. Somebody like that… I don’t think it should be welcome in this country." The protests weren’t random. They were meticulously timed. While Trump teed off at Turnberry Resort with his son Eric and the unnamed U.S. Ambassador to Britain, activists were organizing flash mobs, distributing leaflets in Gaelic and English, and livestreaming to global audiences. One protester, a 68-year-old retired teacher from Glasgow, said: "I voted for the Queen in 1953. I voted for devolution in 1999. But I’ve never been more ashamed of my country than today — because we’re paying to protect someone who calls refugees animals."

Why the Anger? Palestine, Tariffs, and a 15-Year Grudge

The grievances weren’t abstract. Protesters cited specific policies: the mass deportations under Trump’s 2017 travel ban, the funding of Israeli settlements, the crushing tariffs on EU steel and Canadian lumber. "The majority of people in the world don’t agree with what he’s doing in terms of the genocide in Palestine," said one speaker, as captured in CNN-News18’s footage. Another held a sign: "We want them to stand up for the people in Ukraine. We want them to stand up against Trump’s bullying of tariffs all around the world." The anger over his Aberdeenshire golf course still simmers. In 2010, Trump’s development obliterated protected coastal habitats and forced out local fishermen. Activist Jamie Godley led the legal battle back then — and he’s still fighting. "He did a lot of damage," Godley told reporters in 2025. "The land was never the same. And now he comes back like he owns it? We didn’t give him permission to own our coast." The irony wasn’t lost on locals. Trump claims Scottish heritage — yet his policies are antithetical to the values many Scots hold dear: environmental stewardship, international cooperation, compassion for refugees. "He’s a disgrace to us," said a young woman outside the consulate, tears in her eyes. "My grandmother was from Lewis. He’s not our president. He’s not our hero."

Trade Talks on the Horizon — and Taxpayers Footing the Bill

Here’s the twist: Trump wasn’t just vacationing. He was preparing for high-stakes negotiations. As reported by CBS News, he planned to host UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU President Ursula von der Leyen at his Scottish properties within days of the protests. The agenda? Tariffs. Trade. Deals. Yet the U.S. and U.K. had already signed a bilateral trade pact in June 2025 — making Trump’s insistence on renegotiating with the EU look less like diplomacy and more like theater. And who’s paying for the security? Scottish police deployed over 1,200 officers across the three protest zones, according to a leaked internal memo obtained by the Scotsman. No official cost has been released, but estimates from the Scottish Fiscal Commission suggest it could exceed £2.3 million. "We’re funding his golf trip," said Aberdeen city councilor Fiona McLeod. "Meanwhile, our schools are underfunded, our hospitals are stretched thin. He doesn’t pay taxes here. He doesn’t live here. Why are we protecting him?"

What’s Next? A Political Flashpoint in the Making

The trade talks between Trump, Starmer, and von der Leyen are now under intense scrutiny. Will Starmer attend? Will von der Leyen show up without demanding human rights conditions? And will the U.S. State Department intervene to distance itself from Trump’s private property as a diplomatic venue? Meanwhile, the Stop Trump Coalition has announced plans to escalate. A petition demanding the UK government revoke Trump’s business licenses in Scotland has gathered over 280,000 signatures in 72 hours. A legal team is reviewing whether Trump’s golf developments violated environmental protections — a potential avenue to force closure. And in Turnberry, Trump posted another video — this time of a perfect drive — with the caption: "Great day in Scotland. Big deals coming." The people watching? They’re not impressed. They’re just getting started.

Historical Echoes: A Pattern Repeats

This isn’t the first time Trump’s presence has triggered national outrage. In 2018, protests erupted in London after he called the UK’s prime minister "weak" on Brexit. In 2020, his rally in Tulsa drew thousands — and a counter-protest of over 20,000. But Scotland is different. This is personal. His mother’s homeland. His property. His money. His politics. And for many, it’s a betrayal of everything Scotland stands for. The 2010 Menie development wasn’t just a golf course. It was a symbol — of arrogance, of disregard, of wealth trumping community. Now, eight years after his last U.S. term ended, he’s back. And Scotland is saying: not this time.