Army ond Police final preparations at Turnberry for today's visit of President Trump
Scotland's voice will be 'heard' during Donald Trump visit, vows John Swinney
Scotland will have “a platform to make its voice heard on the issues that matter” during Donald Trump’s high-profile visit to the country, First Minister John Swinney has insisted.
In what marks the beginning of the biggest police operation in Scotland since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Mr Trump is scheduled to arrive at Glasgow Prestwick Airport this evening before travelling by heavily armoured motorcade to his resort in Turnberry, South Ayrshire.
Over the course of his five-day trip, he will meet both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Swinney, with the latter describing it as an opportunity for Scotland to be “showcased on the world stage.”
Mr Swinney, who has been criticised for taking a private meeting earlier this year with Mr Trump’s son, Eric, said that the visit “provides Scotland with a platform to make its voice heard on the issues that matter, including war and peace, justice and democracy.”
He said: “As first minister it is my responsibility to advance our interests, raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza, and ensure Scotland’s voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world. That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland.”
Plans for ‘festival of resistance’ Anti-Trump campaign groups have called on Mr Swinney to cancel his planned meeting with the 79 year-old, while Amnesty International UK has urged him to “directly challenge” the US administration’s human rights violations.
Protesters have ramped up their plans for demonstrations during Mr Trump’s time in his mother’s homeland, with at least four events planned as part of what has been described as a “festival of resistance.”
Ahead of his arrival, the vast operation being staged by Police Scotland intensified yesterday, with heightened patrols taking place at Turnberry, where large security fencing has been installed around swathes of the Ailsa links course. Officers have roadblocks in place at all entrances to the resort, while the A719 between Maidens and Turnberry has been closed ahead of the visit.
Mr Trump is expected to play golf at Turnberry tomorrow and Sunday before meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the property on Monday. Later that day, he will then travel via RAF Lossiemouth in Moray to his inaugural Scottish golf resort in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, where he is scheduled to open a new course named after his Lewis-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.
Surge of protests as airspace restrictions widened Temporary airspace restrictions have also been put in place at Prestwick as well as Mr Trump’s resorts as part of a security operation that will cost British taxpayers millions of pounds.
