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Scots farmer next door to Trump's golf resort warns President 'I will never sell'
@Source: dailyrecord.co.uk
A Scots farmer has warned Donald Trump he will never sell his land next door to the US president's luxury golf resort in Aberdeenshire. Michael Forbes spoke out as the Republican leader is set to fly in to Scotland later today for a four-day visit. Trump is expected to land at Prestwick airport onboard Air Force One before transferring to his five-star Turnberry Hotel, which lies 30 miles further south along the Ayrshire coast. The New Yorker will spend time at the high-end resort before flying to the north-east where he will formally open a second golf course at his Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire. But locals in Menie have not forgotten the long-running planning row in the 2000s which soured relations between them and Trump. Forbes, 73, made headlines around the world after he refused to vacate his smallholding next to the now President's multi-million-pound development. "There’s no way I’m ever going to sell," he told the media this week ahead of the Republican leader's latest visit to Aberdeenshire. "Everyone in Scotland hates him." Forbes, who keeps three Highland cows on his land, and his neighbour David Milne both own properties adjacent to what is now Trump International Golf Links. They declined to sell their land in the 2000s and the tycoon went on the offensive. Trump was previously filmed looking up at Milnes' home - a converted coastguard station on a hill - saying "I want to get rid of that house". Told by an employee that this could cause a "bit of stir" the New Yorker replied: "Who cares? We are going to build the greatest golf course in the world, this house is ugly." Trump also once accused Forbes of living in a "pig-like atmosphere". Milne said this week he had no plans to sell his house - and also ruled out repeating a previous protest of flying a Mexican flag during Trump's visit. "Once the Mexican people told him where to go, there didn’t seem to be any point," he told the New York Times . "They’re quite capable of taking care of themselves." Forbes previously branded the President a "clown" when appearing on a US comedy show in 2017. He added; "The only regret I have is I didn't knock him on his arse when I met him". It comes as Ian Murray yesterday insisted Trump would receive a "warm welcome" when he lands at Prestwick. The Scottish Secretary, who is expected to formally welcome the President when he steps off Air Force One, said the visit would help strengthen the relationship between the UK and the US. "We would always have a warm welcome for the president of the United States," he told BBC Radio Scotland. "The office of the president of the United States and the office of the Prime Minister are ones that work very, very closely together, and should do, because it’s in our national interest to do so. “We should make sure those relationships are in place because it’s important for our defence, our security, our economy – especially for jobs – and it’s really, really important to the finer details of the US trade deal that’s been done.” Murray’s comments come despite a 2019 motion in the House of Commons which he backed – along with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Health Secretary Wes Streeting – while in opposition which accused the president of “misogynism, racism and xenophobia”. Pressed on his support for the motion, the Edinburgh MP did not answer and instead focused on the importance of the relationship between the two countries. Murray insisted the Scottish Secretary has a “duty” to welcome foreign dignitaries. To sign up to the Daily R ecord Politics newsletter, click here
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