Biodun.BBC: Trump to play golf at Turnberry as protests continue

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Trump to play golf at Turnberry as protests continue

President Trump at Turnberry — Image captionUS President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at his Turnberry resort on Friday evening

by Melissa Gruz and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Scotland. Melissa Gruz is traveling with the President.

Donald Trump is expected to play golf at his resort in Ayrshire later as further protests against his visit to the UK take place.

The US president arrived in Scotland on Friday evening after completing his two-day "working trip".

Mr Trump - whose mother was Scottish - and his wife Melania are spending the weekend at his Turnberry hotel.

A "national demonstration" is due take place at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Saturday.

Live updates: Trump in Scotland

The president's visit to Scotland has been accompanied by a major security operation. Police insisted they wanted to strike a balance between "protection and public safety and the public's right to peacefully protest".

Paraglider protestor

Ahead of his Turnberry arrival, police snipers were positioned on tiers of temporary scaffolding overlooking the golf course, with a large number of other officers patrolling the grounds and surrounding area.

After President Trump entered his golf resort, a paraglider from environmental group Greenpeace was seen flying nearby.

The aircraft held a banner reading: "Trump: well below par #resist".

In Edinburgh later, thousands of people are expected to walk to the Meadows for a "carnival of resistance".

The event will feature the giant Trump Baby balloon, which was banned from both Turnberry and Holyrood.

Thousands of people protested in London on Friday against Mr Trump's UK visit.

Protestors also filled George Square in Glasgow ahead of his arrival in Scotland.

Media captionThousands of people protested in Glasgow as the president arrived at Prestwick

He flew to Prestwick after meeting Prime Minister Theresa May and the Queen on Friday.

Speaking at talks at Chequers, Mr Trump said a US-UK trade deal "will absolutely be possible", hours after he told The Sun Theresa May's Brexit plan could kill an agreement.

The Scottish part of the US president's trip has been described as a "private visit".

Image captionAir Force One landed at Prestwick shortly after 20:20 BST on Friday

President Trump and his wife Melania arriving at Prestwick Airport — Image captionThis is Mr Trump's first visit to Scotland since becoming US president

Police snipers at Turnberry — Image captionPolice snipers were in position at Turnberry ahead of the president's arrival

paraglider with banner at Turnberry — Image captionA paraglider with a banner was flown near Turnberry after President Trump's arrival

Mr Trump has often spoken of his love for Scotland and its people and had been a regular visitor to the country for many years, but this is his first trip since becoming the US leader.

The president and his wife Melania waved as they left Air Force One shortly after arriving at Prestwick, before being taken away in a huge convoy of black vehicles for the 20-mile journey to Turnberry.

People in the Ayrshire village of Maybole took to the streets to watch the presidential motorcade pass through en route from Prestwick Airport to Turnberry.

Donald Trump — Image captionThe president and prime minister held a joint media conference following talks at Chequers earlier on Friday

Donald Trump and the Queen — Image captionMr Trump met the Queen in Windsor ahead of his trip to Scotland

Mr Trump was greeted by Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who said the visit was an "opportunity to strengthen those vital links" between the UK and USA.

Mr Trump is not expected to meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has been a vocal critic of the president.

Ms Sturgeon will lead thousands of marchers at the Pride Glasgow march on Saturday.

As well as the protest in George Square in Glasgow on Friday evening, anti-Trump campaigners also gathered in Dundee, while further protests are expected to target his Turnberry and Menie golf courses as well as the US consulate in Edinburgh.

Mr Trump is due to leave Scotland on Sunday, when he will travel to Finland ahead of talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin.