U.S. President Donald Trump has slammed wind turbines near Turnberry, calling the wind farms an “environmental con job” during a visit to his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. Trump made the remarks while hosting trade talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He used the opportunity to once again criticize wind energy, which he has opposed for over a decade, claiming it ruins the views from his golf courses.
Trump Dismayed With Windmills Near Turnberry
President Trump played golf with his son Eric and club members on Sunday morning before sitting down for important European trade talks. He described how turbines ruined the view from the 18th hole of his Turnberry course.
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“Today I’m playing the best course, I think, in the world, Turnberry,” he said, in front of a giant picture window looking out on its fairways, dunes and the sea beyond,” Trump said. “It’s probably the best course in the world. And I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills at the end of the 18th. I said, ‘Isn’t that a shame?’”
This is not the first time Trump has spoken out against wind farms in Scotland. In 2011, he tried to block a wind project near his other golf course in Aberdeenshire, claiming it would hurt tourism. He launched a legal battle against the Scottish government, but the UK Supreme Court ruled against him in 2015. The wind farm was built, and since then, Scotland’s tourism industry has continued to grow. Wind power has also become a major part of the country’s clean energy plan.
Trump Labels Wind Farms “Con Job”
Trump also labelled wind farms as a “con job,” insisting that wind farms ruin landscapes and consumes expensive subsidies. “The whole thing is a con job. It’s very expensive,” he said.
Although Trump’s Scotland visit centered around his two golf clubs, his latest comments came during talks about a new trade deal between the U.S. and the European Union. The deal includes a 15% tariff on EU goods and new rules to increase American exports. Trump also wants Europe to buy more U.S. natural gas instead of relying on other energy sources. Some believe his attacks on wind energy are part of a push to promote fossil fuels over renewables.
The president’s words have raised some concern ahead of his meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer is a strong supporter of renewable energy and has promised to make the UK a clean energy leader. His Labour government aims to remove all fossil fuel-based power from the grid by 2030. Trump’s views clash sharply with that goal.
Main Photo Credit: © Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
