The Scottish Greens have announced plans to launch an inquiry into how Donald Trump funded his Scottish golf courses, should the party emerge victorious in next week's election. The party has long opposed the US president and has advocated for an unexplained wealth order to scrutinise the acquisition of properties in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire.
Patrick Harvie's Strong Stance
Patrick Harvie, the party's external affairs spokesman and former co-leader, stated that the billionaire should never have been allowed to treat Scotland as his personal playground. He described Trump as a convicted fraudster, a racist, and a war criminal whose policies have caused fear and instability globally. Harvie emphasised that the evidence suggests Trump has been taking advantage of Scotland, yet both the Scottish and UK governments have pandered to him due to his wealth and golf course ownership.
Harvie insisted that nobody should be above the law, particularly not Donald Trump. He called for the Scottish Government to use all available powers, including an unexplained wealth order, to compel Trump to disclose the origins of the money used to purchase Scottish assets. He criticised the Scottish Government for ignoring such calls and shielding Trump from scrutiny, vowing that the Greens would reopen the case and enforce transparency.
Background and Reactions
These comments follow remarks from Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, who suggested that Trump's golf courses should be confiscated through international sanctions. Polanski labelled the president as unhinged during a press conference in Glasgow.
In response, Sarah Malone, executive vice-president of Trump International Scotland, dismissed the Greens' proposals as juvenile and desperate for attention. She argued that such antics undermine the party's credibility and that employees and visitors to the golf courses view the statements as pathetic and disconnected from reality.
