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Donald Trump arrives in UK and hails EU referendum result Donald Trump arrives in UK and praises Brexit vote to 'take back control'
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has touched down in Scotland in the middle of the UK’s biggest political crisis for decades to welcome Brexit, hailing the referendum result as a reflection of anger over loss of control to the European Union. Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump has expressed full-throated support for the Brexit referendum victory at a press conference at Turnberry in Ayrshire.
“The UK had taken back control. It is a great thing,” the Republican presidential candidate said. He said there were parallels with the US and elsewhere. “People do not necessarily want people pouring over their borders,” he said. “The UK will be stronger for it.
He landed by helicopter on the front lawn of his Trump Turnberry golf resort shortly after 9am on Friday to find a Britain shell-shocked by the Brexit vote. “They have taken their independence back. They can block anyone coming in they do not think is appropriate.”
Wearing a white baseball cap, Trump strode the couple of hundred yards up the gravel path to the Ayrshire hotel accompanied by his family. He was not scheduled to speak to the press but could not resist responding to shouted questions from the media scrum. . He said the outcome had reflected the will of the people. “We will embrace it,” he said.
He described the referendum result as a historic vote and predicted many such uprisings around the world. “It will not be the last. There is lots of anger.” He had landed by helicopter on the front lawn of his Trump Turnberry golf resort shortly after 9am on Friday, and immediately told reporters: “The UK had taken back control. It is a great thing.”
Referring specifically to the UK, he said: “They are angry over people coming and taking control. They are angry about many things.”
He said the UK would recover. “It will heal,” he said. Trump held his press conference against the dramatic backdrop of Turnberry’s ninth hole, on a promontory overlooking the sea.
He was asked about David Cameron but appeared to be saving himself for a later press conference, scheduled for 11am. Brexit is better for him than a remain vote and not just because he expressed vague support last week for leave.
The visit could play well on television in the US, with the presumptive Republican candidate speaking in the UK in the midst of its biggest crisis in decades.
The trip comes after an especially bad few weeks for his campaign, in which he is trailing Hilary Clinton in the polls and fundraising.
Trump has faced criticism in the US for leaving his campaign for what seemed a trivial issue, the formal reopening of the Turnberry golf resort. Since the campaign began, he has made stops at nine hotels or resort properties, prompting accusations that his priority is promoting his properties rather than foreign policy trips to prepare him for the presidency.
But the Brexit result has justified his visit, with Trump able to claim he backed the winning side.
A small group of protesters was restricted to a car park, well away from the press conference.
No senior British or Scottish politicians were present, regarding him as too toxic. Initial plans to include a visit to a golf resort in Ireland were shelved when neither the president or any other senior politician would meet him.
Trump described the referendum result as a historic vote and predicted many such uprisings around the world. “It will not be the last. There is lots of anger,” he said.
He flew overnight from New York to Glasgow Prestwick airport, where he transferred to one of his three Trump helicopters: he keeps two in the US and one in the UK, with Trump in big red capital letters along the side. He took the short helicopter ride to his hotel.He flew overnight from New York to Glasgow Prestwick airport, where he transferred to one of his three Trump helicopters: he keeps two in the US and one in the UK, with Trump in big red capital letters along the side. He took the short helicopter ride to his hotel.
He stepped down on the lawn to the sound of two pipers in full Highland regalia against the backdrop of the saltire, one of the biggest in Scotland, fluttering over the golf course.He stepped down on the lawn to the sound of two pipers in full Highland regalia against the backdrop of the saltire, one of the biggest in Scotland, fluttering over the golf course.
The UK visit, Trump’s only overseas trip since he launched his White House bid, was set up primarily with business in mind, to cut a ribbon formally opening the renovated hotel.The UK visit, Trump’s only overseas trip since he launched his White House bid, was set up primarily with business in mind, to cut a ribbon formally opening the renovated hotel.
It was a seemingly odd move for a presidential candidate, most of whom use such trips to demonstrate their grasp of foreign policy and be pictured with world leaders. But he may yet make a more conventional campaign trip by going to Israel.
US-based reporters travelled separately by charter, or at least those not put off in these financially strained times by the reported $10,000 price tag.