The relationship between Donald J. Trump and Scotland, the birthplace of his mother, Mary MacLeod, has been anything but harmonious. Despite significant investments in two high-profile golf resorts—Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire and Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire—his presence has been a prolonged saga of deep-seated civic and political resistance. This opposition began as a grassroots community defense against business aggression and escalated into a national political and cultural rejection of his rhetoric and policies, creating a sustained anti-Trump movement that has consistently sought to hold his dealings to account over two decades.
The earliest and most intense activism centered on the aggressive business practices required for the flagship Aberdeenshire course. Trump’s vision for a “world-class” resort near Balmedie was immediately complicated by small landowners who refused to sell their properties. The battle against compulsory purchase orders (CPOs)—which would have allowed the government to acquire private land for development—became a flashpoint of public rage. Figures like farmer Michael Forbes and resident David Milne, who owned property directly adjacent to the proposed fairways, became folk heroes of the resistance. Milne famously flew a Mexican flag over his home in solidarity with those Trump had insulted, while the protest group “Tripping Up Trump” coordinated local opposition. This defiance resonated deeply, establishing an early narrative of the working-class Scot standing up against the entitled global tycoon.
This community battle soon escalated into a major conflict with the Scottish Government over its commitment to renewable energy. When the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) was planned in Aberdeen Bay, Trump vehemently opposed the offshore turbines, claiming they would spoil the “spectacular” view from his course. He launched a protracted and costly legal campaign against the Scottish Government, at one point halting work on his own resort and controversially comparing the potential impact of the turbines to the Lockerbie disaster. In a landmark victory for both environmental policy and Scottish autonomy, the UK Supreme Court ultimately dismissed his final appeal in 2015, ensuring the wind farm—and Scotland’s progressive energy agenda—prevailed over Trump’s aesthetic and commercial demands.
Throughout this period, the opposition was championed by prominent Scottish political figures. Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie consistently led calls for the Scottish Government to issue an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) to investigate the source of the funds used for the all-cash purchases of both the Aberdeenshire and Turnberry resorts. This ongoing political pressure sought to question the transparency and integrity of Trump’s finances long before his legal issues in the US came to a head. Beyond politics, public figures—including the former principal of Robert Gordon University—symbolically rejected associations with Trump, adding weight to the public outcry against his character and conduct.
The intensity of public opposition escalated dramatically once Trump entered politics. When he visited Scotland in 2016 and 2018, his private trips were transformed into public demonstrations of national political and cultural opposition. Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Glasgow and Edinburgh, marching with signs that blended political outrage with creative, sharp-witted Scottish sarcasm. These demonstrations were not merely against a foreign political leader, but against what many perceived as a betrayal of core Scottish values of tolerance and internationalism, especially in the context of the Brexit vote, which Scotland largely opposed.
A defining feature of this cultural backlash was the confrontational, humorous dissent, epitomized by the late, beloved Scottish comedian and activist, Janey Godley. Godley’s signs went viral globally, perfectly encapsulating the blunt, uncompromising spirit of the opposition. Her protest against Trump in 2016 at Turnberry, where she held a sign famously calling him a Cunt, became a legendary moment of political satire. In later visits, she continued to wield signs with equally direct messages, making sure the Scottish backlash made international headlines. Her humor served to both lighten and sharpen the mood of the demonstrations, making her an unforgettable figure in the movement.
Ultimately, the sustained and largely successful activism against Donald Trump in Scotland signifies a profound cultural clash. The Scots fought him on his land claims, defeated him on renewable energy, and continue to challenge the transparency of his investments. This vocal opposition, leveraging the power of community organization, legal and political pressure, and direct language, highlighted Scotland’s self-perception as a proudly progressive and internationally-minded nation. Trump’s properties remain monuments to this enduring tension, serving as physical reminders of the powerful, unforgettable voice of dissent that defined his decades-long relationship with his mother’s homeland.
