Donald Trump visits Scotland: Protesters gather in Edinburgh, Aberdeen

Thousands of anti-Trump protesters have gathered in Scotland’s major cities to voice their anger at the US President’s visit to the UK.

Thousands of anti-Trump protesters gathered across Scotland to voice their anger at the US President’s visit to the UK and despite organisers claiming it to be a peaceful protest many people were heard chanting “death, death to the IDF”.

About 1500 people gathered outside the US Consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday and at Aberdeen with many holding placards that read, “Stop Trump, migrants welcome” and “Stop Trump, Free Gaza” while others waved Palestinian flags.

US President Donald Trump plays golf at the Trump Turnberry Golf Course in Turnberry on the south west coast of Scotland. Picture: AFP

Mr Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday night (Saturday AEST) after jetting into Glasgow’s Prestwick Airport before being taken in a convoy of about 30 vehicles including secret service and Scotland police to Trump Turnberry, his five-star golf course in South Ayrshire.

He is due to meet with the European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday to discuss issues including trade agreements which could result in a breakthrough for Europe and result in a reduction to the 30 per cent tariff on goods down to 15 per cent.

] Donald Trump at the Trump Turnberry Golf Course. Picture: AFP

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt watches Donald Trump play golf. Picture: Getty Images

The weekend’s protests, organised by activist group Stop Trump Coalition, featured a series of speakers including from the Edinburgh Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee.

One woman from the committee addressed the crowd and was heard screaming into the microphone, “death, death to the IDF”, which resulted in many in the crowd repeating the chant.

Scotland Police was contacted about the incident and said no arrests were made at the anti-Trump protests.

Hundreds of protesters gather outside the office of the Consulate General of the United States in Edinburgh. Picture: Getty Images

On Friday Mr Trump said French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state “doesn’t matter”.

At Glastonbury last month British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led the same chant, “death, death to the IDF” causing controversy and it resulted in condemnation from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and criticism of the BBC who aired the band’s performance without cutting the live feed.

People take part in a Stop Trump Scotland protest outside the US Consulate in Edinburgh. Picture: PA via AP

Yasmina Ferrigan, 52, from the Edinburgh Gaza Genocide Emergency group, was asked about the chanting and whether it was appropriate.

“We want the IDF to be eradicated,” she said.

“We want them to be eradicated, we do not want them to exist”.

Hundreds of protesters gather outside the office of the Consulate General of the United States in Edinburgh. Picture: Getty Images

She then later said: “It is peaceful (the protest), these are just words, these are a play on words”.

Protester Felicity Nicol, 74, from Edinburgh, attended the rally holding a “No to Trump” sign written on an American flag and a placard that read, “Stop Trump, stop the far right”.

“I’m here because I’m actually half American and I’m absolutely ashamed of what the American people have voted for,” she said.

“I think he (Mr Trump) is intolerable and his policies are ghastly.”

Jack Nevin, from the Stop Trump Coalition, was asked about the chanting by protesters yelling “death, death to the IDF” and whether it should be condemned.

He said: “I didn’t write anyone’s prepared remarks or anything so I wouldn’t want to comment on that”.

Mr Trump is due to meet with Sir Keir on Monday and also Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney.

In March Mr Swinney hit out at Mr Trump’s upcoming state visit to the UK — which will take place in September — and said it should be revoked because he “is not a steadfast ally”.

Mr Trump will also open his lavish new 18-hole golf course at Menie in Aberdeenshire which will be named after his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who was born in Scotland.