Barely 48 hours to the anticipated United States (US) Presidential election, former Vice President, Donald Trump is expanding his presence in Scotland with a second golf course at his Trump International Golf Links resort in Aberdeenshire. The 18-hole course which is set to open next summer, honours his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who was born in Scotland’s Isle of Lewis. Trump International claims the project will feature “The greatest 36 holes in golf,” complementing the resort’s original course, which ranks among the world’s top 50 according to Golf Digest.
The new course has sparked contrasting reactions among the Americans ahead of the election. Supporters view it as a testament to Trump’s love for Scotland and a driver of local economic growth, with Trump Organization Executive Vice President Sarah Malone emphasizing the project’s “enduring commitment to Scotland.” However, environmentalists and local officials, like Scottish Green Party lawmaker Maggie Chapman, warn that development could disrupt fragile sand dune habitats.
The original course has faced criticism since its opening in 2012, particularly after Scotland’s natural heritage agency removed the dunes’ protected status due to environmental concerns. The Trump Organization asserts that the new course is designed to be “environmentally friendly,” sourcing local materials and fostering new biodiversity. Although Trump promised in 2006 to invest £1 billion ($1.
3 billion) and create .