DONALD Trump's golf courses in Scotland are expected to receive a tax rebate of nearly £1 million as part of a government bailout for tourism businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Guardian revealed that the Trump Organization’s golf resorts in Aberdeenshire and Turnberry are to be given £2.3 billion in emergency funding from the Scottish Government, which includes waiving property taxes due this year.
The newspaper said Trump Turnberry had been due to pay £850,766 in property tax this year and Trump Aberdeenshire £121,170.
This week South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire council are expected to tell both businesses they no longer have to pay that tax, known as business rates, because they qualify for 100% relief as part of the bailout fund.
A spokesperson for the Trump Organization, which runs the golf courses and is overseen by the president's sons Eric and Donald Jr, told the Guardian that the resorts had used coronavirus emergency funding schemes but did not provide details on how much money had been claimed or how many staff were furloughed.
Green councillor Martin Ford, who represents Aberdeenshire, said he did not object to Trump’s employees joining the furlough scheme but criticised the business rates relief.
“Taxpayer assistance for a business owned by someone who boasts he is a multi-billionaire is quite another matter,” he said.
“Unlike many people, Mr Trump won’t be suffering any financial hardship. He doesn’t need help. Mr Trump was given every assistance to set up in Scotland and the Scottish government repeated his ridiculous claims of an enormous economic and jobs boost for the region. Now, after years of losses, Mr Trump’s Aberdeenshire business is actually getting taxpayer support, perhaps a final irony in a very sorry saga.”
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