Donald Trump takes his first international trip since presumptively clinching the Republican presidential nomination, jumping out of the US political frying pan and into the “Brexit” fire by arriving
Donald Trump takes his first international trip since presumptively clinching the Republican presidential nomination, jumping out of the US political frying pan and into the “Brexit” fire by arriving in Scotland on Friday.
The New York celebrity billionaire is scheduled to attend the ceremonial re-opening of his Trump Turnberry golf course on the very day that the British will wake to learn whether they have voted to remain in the European Union or backed the historic move to defect from the 28-member bloc. With the intense and bitter campaign in Britain coming down to the wire, and Prime Minister David Cameron invoking wartime spirit to call on citizens not to “walk away” from European dem-ocracy, Mr Trump repeated his position that the British should leave the EU.
Mr Trump has shocked residents of Britain and Europe with his explosive style, his insult-heavy campaign, and deeply controversial attacks on ethnic and religious groups. He has called for a ban on all Muslims entering the US, a reaction to the migrant crisis in Europe which he has pointed to as fuelling terrorism.
In some ways the trip is reminiscent of Barack Obama’s high-profile voyage to Germany in July 2008 before he was President. Like Mr Trump, Mr Obama was his party’s presumptive nominee.
But Mr Trump stands starkly apart in his approach to Europe. While Mr Obama spoke to a crowd of tens of thousands about his dreams of moving on from the divisive George W. Bush era and wooing a unified Europe, Mr Trump has triggered alarm on the continent.
