Advertisement

Trump not welcome to golf in Scotland during Biden’s inauguration

Click to play video: 'Scotland first minister warns Trump: Coming to play golf isn’t ‘essential’ travel'
Scotland first minister warns Trump: Coming to play golf isn’t ‘essential’ travel
WATCH: Scotland first minister warns Trump: Coming to play golf isn't 'essential' travel – Jan 5, 2021

U.S. President Donald Trump spent nearly one-quarter of his presidency at a golf course by most counts, but he won’t be teeing off in Scotland when his presidency ends on Jan. 20.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon shot down reports on Tuesday that Trump might flee to his Scotland golf club during Joe Biden‘s inauguration later this month, saying that he will not get special treatment under the country’s coronavirus rules.

“I have no idea what Donald Trump’s travel plans are,” Sturgeon told a gathering of reporters after she was asked about allowing him to visit one of his luxury golf clubs.

“I hope and expect … that the travel plan immediately that he has is to exit the White House,” Sturgeon said, in a nod to Trump’s ongoing struggle with the reality of his election loss.

Story continues below advertisement

Sturgeon imposed a strict lockdown on Scotland beginning at midnight on Tuesday, when everyone will be required to stay at home except for essential purposes due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“We’re not allowing people to come into Scotland without an essential purpose right now,” Sturgeon said Tuesday in response to the question about Trump.

“That would apply to him just as it applies to everybody else, and coming to play golf is not what I would consider to be an essential purpose.”

Donald Trump is shown golfing at the Trump International Golf Links Course in Aberdeen, Scotland, in this file photo from July 15, 2012. Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Trump has not announced his plans for the day of Jan. 20, when he will no longer be president. His public comments have largely been focused on trying to overturn the election he lost by 74 votes in the Electoral College, and by more than 7 million in the popular vote.

Story continues below advertisement

Reports in December suggested that Trump might hold his own rally during the inauguration, surrounding himself with supporters for the moment when he is no longer president, but speculation recently ramped up in Scottish media that Trump might flee the U.S. and ride out his final moments at a friendly foreign golf course.

Click to play video: 'Trump’s Georgia phone call marks new stage in defying election results'
Trump’s Georgia phone call marks new stage in defying election results

The outgoing president typically participates in the new president’s inauguration ceremony, in a gesture meant to reinforce the peaceful transfer of power. Trump lauded that tradition when Barack Obama was present for his inauguration in 2017, but he has refused to commit to it as the loser in 2021.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The last ex-president who skipped his successor’s inauguration was Richard Nixon.

Click to play video: 'Biden accuses Trump admin of laying ‘roadblocks’ for his White House transition team'
Biden accuses Trump admin of laying ‘roadblocks’ for his White House transition team

Trump owns more than a dozen golf courses around the world, including a few near his beloved Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. That means he’ll have plenty of options if he wants to escape reality for a few hours on inauguration day — though he likely won’t be able to escape the din of the news in the United States.

Story continues below advertisement

The White House denied any suggestions on Monday that Trump might be planning a trip to Scotland for Jan. 19, the day before the inauguration.

“Anonymous sources who claim to know what the president is or is not considering have no idea,” Judd Deere, the White House’s deputy press secretary, told Fox News. “When President Trump has an announcement about his plans for Jan. 20, he will let you know.”

Trump often criticized Obama for golfing during various international crises, though he himself has spent much of his presidency on the links.

Trump has spent 300 days at his golf course during his four-year term, according to tallies by Trump Golf Count and CNN. He was on the golf course on Nov. 7 when The Associated Press called Joe Biden as the election winner.

Story continues below advertisement

Trump’s presidency will end at noon Eastern Time on Jan. 20.

Sponsored content

AdChoices