Trump’s new golf course is not welcome
Donald Trump and his new golf course are not welcome in Aberdeenshire, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman following the announcement that the former US President will be opening his new course in Menie next summer.
Trump’s existing Aberdeenshire course came under significant fire due to numerous environmental concerns, including the irreversible damage from construction leaving the unique sand dunes, a site of special scientific interest, “partially destroyed”.
The new course would join his portfolio of golf venues, with membership at his Ayrshire site costing up to £1,000 per month.
In February this year, the New York State Supreme Court found Donald Trump guilty of civil fraud, ordering defendants to pay more than $350 million. They were found to have falsely inflated the value of Trump’s assets, including his existing golf course in the region. Donald Trump was also subsequently convicted by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Maggie Chapman, who represents the North East region, slammed the project, saying: “Another Trump vanity project is the last thing we need. We should be protecting our natural environment, not offering it up to a racist climate change-denier with a long history of lies and dodgy business dealings.
“Scotland cannot be a country where anyone with the money is able to buy whatever land and property they want without question. He is a thoroughly discredited and dishonest individual. Any land developed should be in the interest of all people, not only those with an expensive hobby."
The Scottish Greens have been urging the First Minister to confirm whether or not Trump will be investigated under an Unexplained Wealth Order, a mechanism which allows investigations into “politically exposed persons” like Trump suspected of involvement in serious crime.
Chapman continued: “Time and time again, Donald Trump has proven that he is only interested in one thing: himself. He is not welcome here. He is a serial liar and he should not be allowed to encroach even further on the Aberdeenshire landscape than he already has.”