Donald Trump Ethics experts raise warning over Scottish golf resort

The government's attempts to curry favour with Donald Trump by nudging golf executives to host one of the world's most prestigious golf tournaments at a Scottish venue owned by the US president could lead to a violation of the US constitution, ethics experts have said.

- Stephanie Kirchgaessner Kiran Stacey

Government officials have asked senior executives at R&A, which organises the Open championship, whether they would host the golf championship at the Turnberry golf resort in 2028.

Trump, sources told the Guardian, has raised the issue "multiple times" with Starmer. One insider said the government was "doing everything it can to get close to Trump".

But US ethics experts say any decision by R&A to choose Turnberry as its 2028 venue may break the spirit, if not the letter, of the US constitution's emoluments clause, which prohibits federal officials from accepting benefits from foreign or state governments without congressional approval.

R&A is not owned by the British government, and Downing Street officials have said the decision will rest with the golf executives.