Yesterday, the UK held a referendum on its membership of the EU and at the declaration of the results this morning, 52% of the population voted to leave with 17,410,742 votes against 16,141,241 who voted to stay within the community on a high turnout of 72%. While England voted overwhelmingly to leave the community, Scotland and Northern Ireland wanted to remain within it.
Mr Trump, who has always been opposed to trans-national organisations and immigration, arrived in Scotland this morning and hailed the result. In what was his first international trip since becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mr Trump arrived in the UK by helicopter into his Trump Turnberry golf course, where a large Scottish flag flew in front of the picturesque seafront, as protesters gathered nearby.
He said: “I think it’s a great thing. I think it’s a fantastic thing.”
Ahead of his visit, Mr Trump had said that he felt Britain should go it alone and leave the 28-member EU in a move that could shape the continent. In addition, proposals to ban Muslims from entering the US drew the ire of Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the idea stupid, divisive and wrong.
Although this visit is brief, it will be long enough for Mr Trump to cut the ribbon on a refurbishment taking place at his golf course, allowing him to return to the US presidential campaign by Saturday. He has caused alarm in Europe with his abrasive style and pledges to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and build a wall on the border with Mexico.
His main rival for the presidential vote in November, Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party, said: “People in Scotland are not thrilled about Trump coming to their country. We know the feeling - Not welcome."
Two groups, Scotland Against Trump and Stand Up To Racism Scotland bussed protesters to the golf resort to picket the property mogul. They held placards saying Scotland is a progressive, tolerant and multicultural country and opposes the bigotry that Donald Trump represents.
Keir McKechnie of Stand Up To Racism Scotland, said: “We want to tell the world that he’s not welcome here.”
Jonathon Shafi of Scotland Against Trump said he wanted the gathering to demonstrate unity with protesters in the US that have disrupted Trump rallies. He added: “We want to send a message of solidarity to movements like Black Lives Matter that we are united in opposition.”
Tomorrow, Mr Trump is expected to travel to the Trump International Golf Links, his course in the eastern coastal village of Balmedie, a resort that has been controversial with locals. Some irate neighbours living next to the course have raised Mexican flags in symbolic opposition to his visit.
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