FEARS Donald Trump could be assassinated when he comes to Scotland this week are being assessed by police and security services, a top cop representative has revealed.
David Threadgold, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said there “is a huge amount of threat assessment and intelligence gathering” taking place ahead of the US President’s visit.
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Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt last year
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Scottish Police Federation general secretary, David Threadgold
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Donald Trump playing golf at his Trump Turnberry course in South Ayrshire in 2023
Mr Trump will visit both of his golf courses in Scotland at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire between July 25 and 29.
He will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney during the visit.
Mr Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania last year when a bullet narrowly missed his head and grazed his right ear.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, fired eight rounds from a semi-automatic rifle, killing a member of the audience and injuring two others.
He was shot dead by a US secret service sniper.
Mr Threadgold told the BBC: “There will be assessments of the terrorist risk and even the assassination threat. We will look at cyber threats and the planned protest activity.
“There will be a huge amount of coordination between Police Scotland, the UK Government, MI5, the US Secret Service, the Ministry of Defence, even, to pull together all of the intelligence that exists to try to provide a safe event for those that have an opinion politically and those who want to see the president going past.”
Mr Threadgold confirmed Police Scotland is stretched enough as it is without having to deal with Trump.
He said: “We are facing increasing demand for our services against a backdrop of reducing police officers.
“As we try to deliver operational and business as usual policing, whilst we have an ongoing operation involving the planning and the logistical challenges and the deliver of this particular operation, plus others that are planned for Scotland during this period, whilst delivering business-as-usual policing for communities across Scotland it is shaping up to be a busy few weeks for myself and my colleagues.
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“We are right in the midst of the school holidays with a peak abstraction rate of officers unavailable because they are on leave.
“This means shifts will be extended, days off will be cancelled, there should be little impact on leave that has already been granted.
“The logistical challenges of moving people from Scotland to the hubs, as well as the movement of equipment, food and the wellbeing support that my colleagues will need, not only during the visit of the president but post operation, will be huge challenges for the service.”
He confirmed Police Scotland “is strictly impartial” on political matters and urged demonstrators “to act within the confines of the law”.
He said: “Whether you accept Donald Trump as president or not, and whether you agree with these views, whether you consider him the most polarising man on earth, he is still the president and we have a duty to provide a safe environment for him and anyone who might protest.”
Ahead of his visit to the Scotland, Mr Trump described Britain as a “great place” which is a “true ally” of the US.
He urged the UK Government get behind the oil industry and “get rid of the windmills”.
