Demos but to Trump his swing’s the thing

The US president was greeted with boos and chants on what was supposed to be a day of relaxation at one of his plush Scottish resorts. But he responded with a wave at Turnberry’s Ailsa championship course.

The scenes unfolded after leading Cabinet Brexiteer Liam Fox branded demonstrators “an embarrassment to themselves”.

Yesterday was the quietest of Mr Trump’s extraordinary four-day trip, which initially saw him cause a minor diplomatic crisis by criticising Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit negotiating position, then dismiss it in her presence as “fake news”.

He claimed in an interview that attempts to keep close ties with the EU would ruin chances of a US trade deal – but disavowed this, and criticism of Mrs May, in a bizarre press conference on Friday.

Demonstrators gathered outside Mr Trump’s five-star Ayrshire resort yesterday, scaling a beachside hill.

As the president came into view with his son Eric, they cried “Go home” and “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA”.

But Mr Trump, in a white baseball cap badged USA, simply waved and smiled before moving on. For locals it was rare glimpse of the leader of the free world, who was paying a “private visit” to Turnberry with family and business associates.

He and his wife Melania flew on Air Force One to Prestwick Airport on Friday evening, after meeting the Queen and Mrs May in London.

The visit has seen tens of thousands take to the streets across the country in protest.

White House officials had been left red faced during the flight to Scotland, when they tweeted that Mr Trump was “departing the UK” after leaving England and heading north of the border.

The official White House post was later deleted after being widely mocked.

The president and first lady hoped to spend the weekend out of the spotlight before a summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday.

Mr Trump tweeted that he had “two days of meetings, calls and hopefully, some golf – my primary form of exercise! The weather is beautiful, and this place is incredible!”

While protesters camped at Turnberry and his other resort at Menie, Aberdeenshire, thousands marched through Edinburgh.

A 20ft Trump “baby blimp” that appeared in London was flown at the Meadows in a “carnival of resistance”.

Tory leader Ruth Davidson sent a supportive message to marchers in Edinburgh and a gay rights event in Glasgow to “remember love trumps hate”.

But International Trade Secretary Mr Fox said: “The president has his own way of expressing himself and I don’t think the protesters were an embarrassment to the Government. I think they were an embarrassment to themselves.

“I think that when you have the president of the United States, the leader of the free world, being greeted with signs that say ‘Go home, we hate you’, I don’t think that reflects the good manners and hospitality of the British people.”

Mr Trump did not request a meeting with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, a vocal critic of his policies.

Ms Sturgeon later said she had been a “wee bit tickled” by a former Number 10 aide’s claims that Mr Trump “totally hates” her and spends “lots of time bitching” about her in calls to Mrs May.

She said: “If it is true I suppose I should take it as a compliment. I certainly don’t spend that much time talking about him.”

She added: “I’ve not refused to meet Donald Trump. If the opportunity arises I will do that and I’m sure if the opportunity arises in the future we will have lots to talk about, including the close and very important links between our two countries.”

Mr Trump’s visit to Scotland has seen a £5million security operation, with the bill being picked up by UK taxpayers.

Yet a paragliding Greenpeace protester breached a no-fly zone surrounding Turnberry on Friday, soaring past police snipers in front of the five-star hotel.

The protester buzzed loudly past onlookers as Mr Trump spoke with guests, trailing a banner that read: “Trump Well Below Par.”

Marksmen pointed weapons at the powered parachute and police said they were investigating a “breach of the air exclusion zone”.

Greenpeace spokesman Ben Stewart said: “Theresa May should not have dignified Trump with a visit to the UK.”

In London, trouble flared between pro and anti-Trump groups as a “Welcome Trump” protest merged with a “free Tommy Robinson” rally, in support of the far-Right activist.

RMT deputy general secretary Steve Hedley was seen with a bandage round his head.

Anti-fascism group Hope Not Hate blamed supporters of Mr Trump and Robinson.