A renewed call to investigate Trump’s fraud in Scotland

Following the court ruling in New York that included Trump’s fraudulent valuations of non-existent property at his golf course on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, a call for Scotland to instigate a police probe into potential financial fraud is valid. On page five of Judge Engoran’s ruling, the Summary Judgment lists his second Scottish golf course alongside Trump Tower, apartments on Wall Street, Mar-a-Lago and the Seven Springs Estate. Borrowing around £200mn from an unknown source (against an inflated and false valuation) would surely warrant an investigation for anyone less powerful. The Scottish people do not appreciate being taken for fools or their land and good nature abused.

With planning granted for only 500 properties, Trump made the false claim that 2500 homes had already been built. To this date, no building has even started. It is unthinkable for the average citizen to secure a mortgage on a non-existent house and then spend the money elsewhere as they please, with no questions asked on the source of their funds. Between 2019 and 2021, the US non-profit organisation Avaaz attempted to employ an unexplained wealth order (UWO) to make transparent how Trump could pay in cash at a time when he was on a spending spree abroad, despite multiple business failings back in the US.

One of the missions of Avaaz is to uncover corruption and, in this case, they stated their specific aim as being “To end Scotland’s tenure as a playground for money launderers, we need to send a clear message: no one is above the law, not even the US President”. Purchases of both Trump’s Scottish courses were sealed despite speculation of money laundering in Panama. Around half of the buyers involved in his Panama Ocean Club were from Russia and a key investment player was “notorious fraudster David Eduardo Helmut Murcia Guzmán”. A report by Global Witness indicates that while Trump struggled to obtain loans in the US and was selling off high-end real estate, his Panama project made him the beneficiary of Columbian drug cartel money.

One of the world’s most powerful men

The initial calls for investigation and a UWO in 2019 by Avaaz and the Scottish Green Party ended with the Scottish Government’s 2021 refusal to probe the source of funds. The debate ultimately led to the decision that this was not a matter for government intervention, but one for Police Scotland. It would seem that at this time, there was insufficient evidence of financial crime to warrant such an investigation and far too much political implication when the government was trying to avoid the appearance of personal bias against the world’s most divisive politician.

As much as it pains to say, Trump was then also one of the world’s most powerful men. The UK was grappling with Brexit and desperately trying to justify its decision by seeking investment and good relations further afield than our European neighbours.

Since then, Trump has resoundingly been found guilty of fraud and ordered to pay nearly half a billion US dollars, which he now has admitted cannot be raised with a bond or liquid assets. Fraud in Scotland is written clearly as part of this ruling, which should be cause for investigation. The findings in the New York civil case are placed in the context of a decade-long pattern, which falls in line with accusations that this is Trump’s status quo as a grifter, liar and cheat. Cheating at golf may bring eye-rolls and ridicule, but taking advantage of Scots and our desire to boost a valuable tourist industry is not so funny.

Trump inflates value in more ways than one

When courses were initially proposed, Trump spewed out his usual promises of grandeur, vowing great benefits to the Scottish people, a boon for the community and tourist industry, bringing local jobs and a new addition to the golfing elite class. This all took place before we knew who he was; a racist, demagogue-worshipping, misogynistic, narcissist who saw the US presidency as the ultimate protective power. As described in the BBC Sounds podcast Trumped, residents were initially largely excited and honoured to have a celebrity New York real estate mogul take an interest in their windy shores as a place to build the ‘greatest golf course in the world’.

Scotland was seeking a tourism boost, with the threat of loss of North Sea oil revenues in the decades to come yet did its due diligence with the initial planning application by analysing carefully the potential environmental impact on the Menie Estate. With the application denied, Trump flew into one of his rages and threatened to walk away. Following an unprecedented intervention by the First Minister at the time, Alex Salmond, this decision was overturned. This is rather ironic given the government’s later decision to not get involved in a probe into the source of funds.

The ensuing environmental degradation and abuse of Aberdeenshire residents, with threats to force them to sell their beloved homes to amalgamate the widest possible area of land, revealed all too well Trump’s true character. The dunes of this unique landscape have now sadly, in 2020, lost their protected status as an area of special scientific interest. This does not just affect the landscape, but the diverse ecosystem that depends upon it. In Scotland, we pride ourselves on the beauty and importance of unspoiled natural landscapes – a fitting symbol of resilience and respect. The broken promises for environmental protection, coupled with a hatred for what the man represents, however, is sadly not enough to justify a police enquiry. A clear ruling of fraud involving Scotland very much is.

Who would pay for another Trump investigation?

As it stands, the UK taxpayer must fork out approximately £60mn for special police security every time that Trump finds it convenient to stop off for a round of golf at Turnberry or Trump International in Aberdeen. The blustered, narcissistic claim that his presence would boost the Scottish economy was smoke and mirrors, with both courses making a loss, year on year. The first profit in 2024 was exempt from tax, with losses carried forward. His courses also received around £1mn in taxpayer support during the Covid lockdowns.

If the taxpayer must pay for an investigation by Police Scotland, perhaps this would be money well spent. And Trump may well be held liable to pay for the legal and court fees if he is found guilty, as with his recent defamation claim loss against Orbis in the UK. While the world appears baffled at the possibility of a 2024 re-election of Donald Trump, we should not be hypocritical in our generally held idea that there should not be one rule for the mega-rich (even the self-proclaimed) and another for everybody else. We should uphold the principles of transparency, fairness, community and environmental respect while sending out the message on the international stage that Scotland does not launder money and does not appreciate being taken for a fool.

In a world where democracy is more challenged than ever, perhaps a more fitting question would be, who pays for not probing?