Police warn against violence as Trump prepares to tour his Scottish golf courses

London: Thousands of police are being mobilised in Scotland to keep the peace when US President Donald Trump lands within days to visit his golf courses, as his critics prepare major protests over his support for Israel and other policies.

Scottish police have issued an early warning against violence in the expectation the protests could exceed the rallies against Trump when he visited his golf courses near Glasgow and Aberdeen seven years ago.

Police provided tight security for Donald Trump’s visit to his Turnberry golf club in Scotland in 2018.Credit: AP

Police Scotland named support for Gaza as a key concern after the British government listed one campaign group, Palestine Action, as a terrorist organisation earlier this month.

Trump will meet British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland First Minister John Swinney when he visits Scotland in a private capacity over five days from Friday, a precursor to a formal state visit in September.

Activists prepared for the visit by placing a sign at one of Trump’s properties, Trump International Golf Links at Aberdeen, to target him over his past connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The campaigners placed a sign at the main entrance to the golf course, copying the official sign, saying the property was “twinned with Epstein Island”.

Donald Trump plays golf at his Trump Turnberry course in Scotland in 2023.Credit: PA/AP

Police Scotland assistant chief constable Emma Bond, who is leading the police operation, said the force assumed there would be protests in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“I would appeal to people obviously to stay within the bounds of peaceful protest,” she told the media.

“I’d be really clear, however, that abusive, threatening behaviour, any activity that’s intended to disrupt events or in any way that poses a risk to public safety, is not legitimate protest and will potentially require an intervention by policing.”

Protesters held large rallies against Trump when he visited in July 2018 and one paraglider flew over a no-fly zone at one of his golf courses with a banner that read: “Trump: well below par”.

Protesters march through Edinburgh during Donald Trump’s Scottish visit in 2018.Credit: PA

The police plan, called Operation Roll, is estimated to require 5000 officers to be on duty over the five days, with some coming from Northern Ireland.

Public protests against the war in Gaza have intensified in Britain in recent weeks amid global concern about Israeli forces killing Palestinians trying to get food at aid distribution points.

Australia this week joined a coalition of 28 nations calling for an immediate end to the war and condemning Israel over the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians seeking aid.

The British parliament voted to proscribe Palestine Action on July 2 after the government decided it should be branded a terrorist group, after members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged aircraft.

Demonstrators in London show their support for Palestinians in June.Credit: Getty Images

“Any support for Palestine Action, be that in terms of clothes worn, be that in terms of banners held, is now an offence under the Terrorism Act and people are liable to arrest for those offences,” Bond said.

The assistant chief constable suggested wearing a shirt declaring support for Palestine Action could meet the threshold for an arrest.

Trump will open a new 18-hole golf course during his visit at his existing resort on the North Sea coast at Menie, north of Aberdeen. The course will be named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s north-west.

While the coming visit is personal rather than official business, the president will be backed by the usual security detail and will be flown between the two properties on Marine One, the presidential helicopter.

The state visit in September will include a ceremonial welcome and a state dinner at Windsor Castle, where Trump and his wife, Melania, will stay as guests of King Charles.

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