Donald Trump has claimed the late Sean Connery assisted him in gaining planning permission for his golf resort in Scotland, a statement promptly dismissed by those involved in the process. In a series of tweets two days before the US election, Trump paid tribute to the James Bond actor, who died aged 90, saying he was 'highly regarded and respected in Scotland and beyond'. He added that Connery stepped in and shouted 'let him build the damn thing', after which 'everything went swimmingly' with his development plans.
However, Martin Ford, the Aberdeenshire councillor who chaired the planning committee that initially refused Trump’s application, told the Guardian: 'Mr Connery was not involved in the due process that led to the granting of planning permission for a golf resort at Menie. He did not submit a letter of representation to the council, appear at the planning hearing, or at the public local inquiry.' Ford added that opinions offered in press articles 'are not material considerations in decisions on planning applications'.
Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond weighed in, saying: 'Scotland and much of the world is mourning the loss of a great spirit. Sean Connery’s contribution and life’s work was immense, real and lasting... Tributes are great from all sources but this is not a time for tweeting silly claims or indeed responding to them.' David Milne, a neighbour of the golf course and a vocal critic of Trump, described the claim as 'utter bollocks', noting that Connery had never played the course despite Trump’s invitations.
Connery had been offered the honour of becoming the first member of Trump’s resort at Menie, north of Aberdeen, with membership number 007. Trump had wanted the star to play the first shot, but when the resort opened two years later, Trump played with former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie instead. The pair had known each other, photographed together at events in New York in the early 2000s.
