Trump tees off at Turnberry as hundreds protest his visit

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Edinburgh and Aberdeen yesterday to voice their opposition to Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland.

- BRYONY GOOCH

Demonstrators waved anti-Trump slogans objecting to his five-day trip to the country, while others brought “free Gaza” signs and Palestinian flags. The support for the wartorn territory comes after the president said on Friday that France’s recognition of a Palestinian state “doesn’t matter”.

Mr Trump, meanwhile, took to the golf course on the first full day of his visit, playing at Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire under the watchful eye of heavy security. The president teed off at his luxury resort at about 10:00am.

The army, navy and counterterrorism police were all present at Turnberry to complete security checks on the course with police snipers on standby in scaffolding set up nearby.

Sniffer dogs were seen patrolling the golf course, with the navy carrying out sweeps in the water beside the seaside course, while army vehicles were spotted on the nearby A77.

Mr Trump listened to “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel, “Memory” by Elaine Paige and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel as he drove his golf buggy.