Donald Trump has accused Nicola Sturgeon of “not loving Scotland” in a scathing attack on the former first minister.
The former US President holds great affection for the country, with his Trump Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire boasting world class facilities and aiding the Scottish economy with jobs.
Trump says the ex-SNP leader was not a supportive presence as he pushed ahead with building the world class facility.
Speaking to Nigel Farage in an exclusive interview for GB News, the 76-year-old says he experienced pushback due to environmental concerns from the Scottish establishment.
Donald Trump says Nicola Sturgeon 'didn't love Scotland'
Stuart Mitchell / GB News / PA
He said: “They said you're hurting Scotland, you're destroying your environment.
“Frankly, The windmills I think a great disturbance to this country and to a lot of other countries, very expensive energy.”
Trump detailed the struggles he encountered as he sought approval for his golf resort, which he says could bring The Open Championship to Scotland, making Sturgeon out to be front and centre of the pushback.
“Everybody wants to see the Open Championship here”, he told GB News. For the players, it's a favourite course, it's the number one rated in Europe.
Donald Trump joined Nigel Farage for a world exclusive GB News interview
Stuart Mitchell / GB News
“In some lists, it's the number one rated anywhere in the world. And they want to have the Open Championship back here.
“I would have thought that Sturgeon would have wanted that but she got, she's got her own agenda.
“I just felt she didn't love Scotland. Sean Connery said 'let him build his bloody golf course'.
“After that, I got my approval. So it was incredible. Sean Connery is great.”
Trump admitted he “doesn’t know” Sturgeon’s successor, Humza Yousaf, but told Nigel Farage he is hopeful that he can perform in a more effective manner.
The First Minister of Scotland said on Monday he would find it “difficult” to meet Donald Trump without “raising the significance of concerns I have about the remarks he's made in the past”.
Nigel Farage told the ex-US President that Yousaf was referring to Trump’s comments regarding Sadiq Khan, which have been dubbed “anti-Muslim”.
Denouncing the claim, Trump asserted: “I am not anti-Muslim. I have friends that are Muslim and great friends and frankly, leaders of countries that are Muslim and I've had great relationships.
“If you look at Saudi Arabia and many other countries, great relationships. So I don't exactly know what he's talking about.
“But you know, I've kept a very safe country when I was President. We kept a very, very safe country, and did a really great job.
“But I don't know him. I hope he's going to do a great job and I'm sure he's going to be a lot better than Sturgeon.”
Trump continued to slate the former first minister during his exclusive GB News interview, saying she was wrong to stand in the way of his golf resort plans, arguing it represented an “anti-money” agenda.
“She was very, very anti-money coming in, very anti-jobs”, he said. “if you look at it, and I don't know her, somebody that invests a lot of money in Scotland, you should cherish those people because I created tremendous jobs.”
“Turnberry is a tremendous success. Now we employ hundreds and hundreds of people. It's been a joy to do it.”