US President-elect Donald Trump will visit Scotland next year for the opening of a new golf course in Aberdeenshire, his son has confirmed.
Eric Trump and his father broke ground on the 18-hole links MacLeod Course at the Trump International resort in Menie last year.
The course is expected to open next summer. If the visit goes ahead, it could be the first time Donald Trump travels to Scotland since his victory in the US election.
His last visit as president in 2018 sparked a security operation with thousands protesting in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Trump International claimed the new course – named after Trump’s Lewis-born mother, Mary – would feature the “largest sand dunes in Scotland” and form “the greatest 36 holes in golf” alongside the original course, completed in 2012.
The resort has prompted controversy in the past – four years ago the dunes at Menie lost their status as a nationally-important protected environment.
But Trump International claimed the new course was “one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable” ever built.
The Scottish Greens previously said Trump and his new golf course were “not welcome in Aberdeenshire”, accusing him of being a climate-change denier with a “long history of lies and dodgy business dealings”.
During his 2018 visit, Trump was booed during an afternoon game of golf by demonstrators gathered at the perimeter of the Turnberry complex.
A paraglider was also able to fly over the resort hotel with a banner criticising Trump.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Eric Trump said his family’s “love” for Scotland kept them investing in the country.
He said the Scottish government had made it “virtually impossible” to do business, saying “[it’s] very long to get permits, there are a lot of regulations, a lot of red tape, insane taxation, government leaders who just take pot shots at you for no reason whatsoever”.
The businessman, Donald Trump’s third child, said he had meticulously designed the refurbishment of the resort, including investing hundreds of millions of dollars into it, adding: “And I’ve never really gotten so much as a thank you.”
He also said it was “nasty” for First Minister John Swinney to endorse Kamala Harris, but that his father “is not going to lose any sleep” over the remarks.
Swinney sent a letter to Trump after his victory saying he wanted both countries to have a good relationship and wished him well.
Eric Trump also suggested Swinney’s original remarks could affect Scotland’s ability to negotiate on tariffs – Donald Trump has vowed to tax all goods imported into the US if he returned to the White House.
He added: “And now, all of a sudden, you have two countries that could have the greatest political relationship.
“Again, my father adores Scotland, and you have a First Minister coming out and just being fairly nasty in the days leading up.
“I mean, who did that benefit? Did that benefit Scotland?
“You know, you just asked about tariffs? Does that benefit that? If he ever needs to call my father and ask about tariffs or negotiate a base, does that benefit Scotland?”
The Scottish government has been approached for comment.
