DONALD Trump has been spotted playing golf at his luxury Turnberry resort this morning alongside his son Eric.
The US President, 79, arrived aboard Air Force One at around 8.30pm last night for his five-day private visit to Bonnie Scotland.
EPAUS President Donald Trump with his son Eric Trump[/caption]
AFPHe wasted no time in teeing off at the Trump Turnberry golf course[/caption]
GettyA huge convoy of 20 golf carts was spotted following him this morning[/caption]
APHe was all smiles this morning despite protest fears[/caption]
After waving to the crowds, he was welcomed by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray before being whisked to his luxury Turnberry resort 20 miles down the Ayrshire coast.
Villagers waved as the convoy passed through nearby Kirkoswald and later arrived at the resort at around 9.30pm.
And he has wasted no time in taking to the green after being seen teeing off at the luxury resort this morning.
Donning a white USA baseball cap, he has been joined by his son Eric as he enjoys the Turnberry’s Ailsa course.
Mr Trump was spotted being escorted down to the course on a golf buggy, with a convoy of 20 other carts following close behind.
Around two dozen buggies were involved in Trump’s round of golf as Trump drove a cart ahead of the group.
He waved for cameras on the third green at the southeast end of the course before the party moved on.
He was all smiles as he enjoyed his morning despite fears that his visit will spark mass protests at his golf resorts and in major Scottish cities.
Several protests have already been planned, with opponents of Mr Trump expected to gather in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen later today.
The Stop Trump coalition is also planning what it has described as being a “festival of resistance”.
Yesterday, activists shut down the Forth Road Bridge in South Queensferry as part of a huge protest ahead of Trump’s visit.
Climate campaigners from Greenpeace confirmed that 10 activists abseiled from the massive 156m bridge to block an INEOS tanker.
A large number of police and military personnel were seen searching the grounds at the golf resort to ensure Mr Trump’s safety before he teed off.
A high-profile security operation was in full swing with land, sea and air coverage from police and security services while a number of guests were checked over.
Secret service agents with sniffer dogs checked bushes as snipers were positioned on a platform on the edge of the course and the roof of the hotel.
Uniformed and plain clothes cops guarded all access points to the course, including roads, footpaths and the beach.
Amid the search, a few golfers were also spotted at the course, enjoying an early-morning game.
A number of onlookers had gathered at the entrance to Turnberry hoping to catch a glimpse of the game. But they were not let anywhere near.
Police also have road closures in place, with limited access for locals and members of the media.
Mr Trump – a well-known golf enthusiast – is expected to spend much of his first day in Scotland on the golf course.
ReutersMr Trump waved to the cameras as he enjoyed his morning on the golf course[/caption]
Tom FarmerCops and army staff were scouring the green Trump played an early round of golf.[/caption]
Tom FarmerThere was land, sea and air coverage from police and security services at Turnberry[/caption]
Upon his arrival last night, he told reporters: “There’s no place like Turnberry. It’s the best course in the world.”
As well as visiting Trump Turnberry, Mr Trump will later head to Aberdeenshire and visit his golf resort in Balmedie.
During his stay, he will officially open his second course at Menie, named in honour of his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.
His visit is expected to last until Tuesday, July 29.
The President is also scheduled to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his trip.
After landing in Scotland, Mr Trump said the “invasion” of migrants is “killing” Europe and told the leaders to “get their act together”.
But when asked about illegal immigration, Mr Trump said a “horrible invasion” was taking place in Europe which needs to stop.
He said: “On immigration, you better get your act together.
“You’re not going to have Europe anymore, you’ve got to get your act together.
“As you know, last month we had nobody entering our country – nobody, [we] shut it down.”
He added: “You’ve got to stop this horrible invasion that’s happening to Europe.”
Mr Trump, who made a crackdown on illegal immigration a major policy in his second term at the White House, boasted: “Last month we had nobody entering our country.”
A massive £5million security operation has been rolled out to ensure his safety, with around 6,000 police officers drafted in from across the UK to support the efforts.
We previously told how police and security services assessed fears that Trump could be assassinated during his visit to Scotland after he survived an attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania last year.
David Threadgold, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said “a huge amount of threat assessment and intelligence gathering” took place ahead of the visit.
It comes months after Trump’s Ayrshire course was vandalised with pro-Palestine graffiti back in March.
Eight people have since been charged in connection with the incident where protestors daubed red paint on the clubhouse and damaged the greens in the attack.
Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said: “A policing plan will be in place to maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest, and minimise disruption.”
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