Trump hails Brexit, says UK ‘took back their country’
Visiting Scotland, presumptive Republican says it’s ‘fantastic’ Britain voted to leave European Union
Donald Trump on Friday saluted the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union, saying “they took back their country, it’s a great thing.”
Trump arrived at his Turnberry golf course in Scotland a day after the so-called Brexit vote.
He said “people are angry all over the world,” and said that worries about “the borders” fueled the UK’s vote. He called the decisions to leave “fantastic” and “great.”
The presumptive Republican nominee also suggested that other counties may follow the UK’s lead, saying “this will not be the last.” He said that people were angry about similar things in the United States.
He did not answer a question about whether British Prime Minister David Cameron should have decided to resign.
Ahead of his visit, Trump had told Fox News that he felt Britain should “go it alone” and leave the 28-member EU in a move that could shape the Continent.
Trump on Friday swooped down by helicopter into his Trump Turnberry golf course, where a large Scottish flag flew in front of the picturesque seafront, as protesters gathered nearby.
The visit was brief, long enough to cut the ribbon on a refurbishment of his golf course, returning to the US presidential campaign by Saturday.
The New York celebrity tycoon has caused alarm in Europe with his abrasive style and pledges to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and build a wall on the border with Mexico.
His proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States drew the ire of Cameron, who called the idea “stupid, divisive and wrong.”
Trump’s main rival for the presidential vote in November, Hillary Clinton, seized the moment to post a video compilation of criticism from Cameron and others.
“People in Scotland are not thrilled about Trump coming to their country,” Clinton posted on Twitter. “We know the feeling.”
Two groups — “Scotland against Trump” and “Stand Up to Racism Scotland” — bused protesters to the golf resort to picket the property mogul.
“Scotland is a progressive, tolerant and multicultural country and we oppose the bigotry that Donald Trump represents,” Keir McKechnie of Stand Up to Racism Scotland told AFP.
“We want to tell the world that he’s not welcome here.”
Jonathon Shafi of Scotland against Trump said he wanted the gathering to demonstrate unity with protesters in the United States that have disrupted Trump rallies.
“We want to send a message of solidarity to movements like Black Lives Matter that we are united in opposition,” Shafi told AFP.
On Saturday, Trump is expected to travel to the Trump International Golf Links, his course in the eastern coastal village of Balmedie, a resort that has been controversial with locals.
Some irate neighbors living next to the course have raised Mexican flags in symbolic opposition to Trump.
Trump has criticized the Continent’s leaders as “weak,” and accused them of inadequate measures to combat terrorism after attacks in Brussels this year.
