The resort in the northeast of Scotland, which houses one of Donald Trump’s golf courses, came under heavy criticism in 2020 following the loss of special environmental protection status for the surrounding dunes. According to Sally Thomas, Director of People and Nature at Scottish Natural Heritage, the dunes no longer contained “enough of the special, natural features for which they were designated,” leading to the downgrade.
Despite this, Trump International has since claimed that their new course will be “one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable” developments ever made.
During a prior presidential visit in July 2018, Trump faced widespread protests in cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. Demonstrators were highly critical of his policies and his presence in the country. Ironically, Trump’s mother was born on the Scottish island of Lewis in 1912.
In a recent interview, Eric Trump criticized the Scottish government for imposing excessive regulations that he claims made conducting business in the country “virtually impossible.” He cited long delays in acquiring permits, burdensome regulations, excessive taxation, and unwarranted criticism from government officials.
Eric Trump also accused Scottish First Minister John Swinney of being “nasty” during the U.S. election, particularly after Swinney endorsed Kamala Harris as vice president. He argued that this intervention negatively impacted relations between Scotland and the U.S., remarking, “My father adores Scotland, and you have a first minister coming out and just being fairly nasty in the days leading up.”
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