Donald Trump taunts protesters at Scottish golf course as they tell him to 'go home'

US President Donald Trump (C) gestures as he walks during a round of golf on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry - AFP
US President Donald Trump (C) gestures as he walks during a round of golf on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry - AFP

Donald Trump has taunted protestors while playing golf at one of his Scottish resorts after Liam Fox attacked those demonstrating against the US President as "an embarrassment to themselves."

Demonstrators on the beach below Mr Trump's Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire booed loudly when the President and his son, Eric, came within view as he made his way around its Ailsa course.

The President, who was spotted with a large entourage including 12 golf buggies and a small army of bodyguards, was greeted with unwelcoming chants of "racist" and "go home".

But Mr Trump, who was wearing a white hat with USA written on it, taunted protestors by waving at them from his golf buggy.

Walking to the edge of the golf course, a short distance from the demonstrators, Mr Trump waved and smiled at the demonstrators from the fourth hole before moving on.

US President Donald Trump plays a round of golf on the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire, where he and first lady Melania Trump are spending the weekend - Credit: PA
US President Donald Trump plays a round of golf on the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire, where he and first lady Melania Trump are spending the weekendCredit: PA

It was rare glimpse of Mr Trump, who otherwise kept a low profile at the resort, where he is spending the weekend golfing amid tight security and more demonstrations.

The President took to Twitter to state he would at the resort "for two days of meetings, calls and hopefully, some golf - my primary form of exercise!"

Thousands more people gathered for a much larger protest in Edinburgh, where a 20ft Trump baby blimp that appeared the previous day in London was flown again.

US president Donald Trump visits UK, in pictures

Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, sent a supportive message to marchers attending the Edinburgh protest and a gay pride event in Glasgow to "remember love trumps hate."

But Mr Fox, who welcomed Mr Trump to the UK at Stansted Airport on Thursday, argued that demonstrations were not the way to welcome the US President to Britain.

Give us a wave, Donald! - Credit: AFP
Give us a wave, Donald!Credit: AFP

He told BBC News: "The President has his own way of expressing himself and I don't think the protesters were an embarrassment to the Government. I think they were an embarrassment to themselves.

"I think that when you have the President of the United States, the leader of the free world being greeted with signs that say 'go home, we hate you', I don't think that reflects the good manners and hospitality of the British people."

Police secure the area as U.S. President Donald Trump, wearing a hat with Trump and USA displayed on it, plays golf at Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort during the President's first official visit to the United Kingdom - Credit: Getty Images
Police secure the area as U.S. President Donald Trump, wearing a hat with Trump and USA displayed on it, plays golf at Trump Turnberry Luxury Collection Resort during the President's first official visit to the United KingdomCredit: Getty Images

Mr Trump complained the demonstrations made him feel "unwelcome" in London but insisted that most British people "love the President."

He and his wife, Melania, flew to Scotland on Friday evening after his meetings with the Queen and Theresa May were overshadowed by a highly critical newspaper interview attacking the Prime Minister's Brexit strategy.

The area around the Turnberry resort was saturated with security personnel, with police snipers positioned on temporary scaffolding. Roads into the area were blocked off and vehicles stopped and searched, while a police boat was stationed off the coast.

In a tweet posted before his first round of golf, Mr Trump said: "The weather is beautiful and this place is incredible!" The President said he would leave on Sunday for Helsinki, where he is holding a summit with Vladimir Putin.

Although protesters gathered outside to vent their fury at his administration's policies, he received support from some local residents.

Demonstrators called Bill McGibbon, 74, a "fascist" for flying an American flag outside his house. He said: "“I like Trump. I like what he is doing. I also think it’s important we retain a relationship between the US and UK.

“I would like to see some British politicians stand up and say what we are all thinking.”

Trump protestors on the beach near to the Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire - Credit: PA
Trump protestors on the beach near to the Trump Turnberry resort in South AyrshireCredit: PA

Asked about the hostility he faced from the protesters, he said: "They can call me whatever they like. They can have their opinion and I haven’t offended them but they seem intent of offending me."

Thousands more protesters joined a rally titled the Carnival of Resistance in Edinburgh, some dressed as caricatures of the US President and others carrying placards bearing messages such as "Dump Trump."

SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians addressed the march from the Scottish Parliament to the Meadows park in the city.

Trump - Credit: AFP
Credit: AFP

Richard Leonard, the Scottish Labour leader, told the crowds: "We are here today standing shoulder to shoulder, all parties and none, all faiths and none, standing together in this capital to send a message out to the world that Scotland stands united against Trump."

Meanwhile, police announced they were trying to trace a paraglider who flew over Turnberry with a banner stating "Trump well below par", shortly after the President's arrival on Friday night.

Police Scotland said the stunt, which was organised by Greenpeace, was being treated as a beach of an air exclusion zone and this was a criminal offence.

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