Rumours Trump will avoid Biden inauguration with Scotland golf visit

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Speculation is mounting that President Trump may be planning to a trip to Scotland to avoid attending the inauguration of Joe Biden later this month.

Trump has been incredibly vocal about his disdain for his election loss and continues to dispute the results with claims of election fraud.

Now, Prestwick Airport, which is located near to the president’s Turnberry golf resort, has been told to expect the arrival of a US military Boeing 757 aircraft that is occasionally used by Trump, according to the Sunday Post.

The aircraft is set to land in Prestwick on January 19 – the day before Biden’s is due to be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States in Washington DC.

‘There is a booking for an American military version of the Boeing 757 on January 19, the day before the inauguration. That’s one that’s normally used by the Vice-President but often used by the First Lady,’ an anonymous source told the outlet.

‘Presidential flights tend to get booked far in advance, because of the work that has to be done around it.’

Speculation surrounding Trump’s plans has been further fueled by reports of US Army aircraft activity in the area.

Sources at Prestwick said two US military surveillance aircraft were circling Turnberry in November to conduct 3D reconnaissance of the resort and were using the Ayrshire aviation hub as a base.

In one instance, a MC-12W Liberty – which is modified for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) role – landed at Prestwick on November 12.

Over the next few days, it made a number of flights over Trump Turnberry, the anonymous source said.

‘The survey aircraft was based at Prestwick for about a week. It is usually a sign Trump is going to be somewhere for an extended period,’ they told the Post.

Reports have emerged in the last few weeks that Trump is set to deviate from tradition and snub Biden’s inauguration, instead announcing a re-election bid for 2024 from Air Force One.

Last month, NBC reporter Ken Dilanian tweeted: ‘Trump may announce for 2024 on inauguration day. Either way, he won’t attend the inauguration and does not plan to invite Biden to the White House or even call him.’

Only three outgoing presidents – John Adams in 1801, John Quincy Adams in 1829 and Andrew Johnson in 1869 – have previously refused to attend their successor’s inaugurations.  

Aircraft used by the President, First Lady and the Vice-President are all issued special call signs instead of tail numbers to make it easier for air traffic controllers to identify them.

Every plane Trump flies in has a special call sign, including his own personal Boeing 757, which has the call sign Tyson 1.

Air traffic controllers receive details of planes with special call signs weeks in advance, but are not outright told which plane at the time the booking is made.

Should Trump make the trip to Scotland he could possibly be in breach of coronavirus restrictions. 

On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new nationwide lockdown in the UK until mid-February, as the nation grapples to control a ‘super’ mutant strain of the virus that’s causing cases to surge.

Located just 23 miles away from Prestwick Airport, Turnberry golf course is currently closed until at least February 5.

Turnberry was under ‘Tier 4’ rules as of early Monday, according to its website. Though that it likely to change with strict stay at home orders now in place across Britain.  

All schools, non-essential businesses and gyms have been closed across the country. 

Residents have also been ordered to stay at home unless for essential purposes, such as shopping or exercise. 

Those exercising can do so with anyone insider their ‘sport bubble’, though it’s currently unclear whether golf is considered under the guidelines.  

White House spokesman Judd Deere told the Sunday Post that Trump has not yet finalized his plans for inauguration day, but declined to comment further.

The outgoing president does have other ties to Scotland, with his mother Mary Anne Trump born on the Hebridean Island of Lewis. The 74-year-old also owns another golf course in Aberdeenshire.

The National reported that Trump’s rumored visit comes as Turnberry has posted a losses totaling $61 million in just the last six years.

Documents filed with Companies House at the end of the year show the resort had a turnover of $26,000,000 and made a loss $3.1 million in 2019. 

In 2018 the club lost almost $14.5 million, and in 2017 reported losses of $4.5 million.

Trump’s other Scottish golf resort, at Menie in Aberdeenshire, meanwhile, made a loss of more than $1.3 million last year – the eighth consecutive year it’s posted a loss.

The filings from Trump International contain a statement by company director, Eric Trump, the president’s son, who said that resort operations have been limited due to coronavirus mitigation measures such as social distancing and travel restrictions.

Eric Trump said that ‘[the] extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the company’s business and financial results will depend on the duration and spread of the outbreak and the related impact on consumer confidence and spending, all of which are highly uncertain in the current environment.’

Few would be surprised to see the former business mogul head to the links if he does choose to skip out on Biden’s inauguration for a jaunt in Scotland.

Across Christmas week, Trump played golf five days in a row at his Trump International Golf Course in Palm Beach.

It marked roughly the 306th time he has visited one of his 17 golf clubs since taking office in January 2017, which the Huffington Post estimates has cost the tax payer around $151.5 million.