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Scottish airport told to expect a high-flyer the day before Biden inauguration. Is it Trump?

It could be a way for Trump to get the first leg of his trip funded by U.S. taxpayers as he faces his crumbling business empire post-presidency

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What U.S. President Donald Trump will do come January 20, the day of his Democratic rival’s inauguration, is shrouded in mystery, but some signs indicate he may fly off a day earlier to Scotland.

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Since his loss in November — which Trump unabashedly refuses to admit — there have been several theories about what the president might do come Inauguration Day.

One theory is he will refuse to leave the White House. Another indicates he won’t even attend his successor’s inauguration, but instead fly off to Florida where he’ll announce his 2024 election bid in the classic Trump rally style.

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However, Scotland’s Sunday Post has reported that Prestwick Airport, the closest airport to Trump’s Turnberry golf course, has been given directions about a U.S. plane set to land on January 19.

The plane, a U.S. military Boeing 757, is a smaller plane than the planes used for Air Force One (Boeing 747-200Bs), and is typically used by First Lady Melania Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence, however Trump occasionally uses it.

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Inklings of Inauguration Day drama have been fuelled by reports from the airport of U.S. military surveillance scoping out the areas around Turnberry and the airport itself.

Planes used by the president, first lady and vice-president all receive special call signs instead of a tail number so that it’s easier for air traffic controllers to give them special treatment. Every aircraft the president flies in has a special call sign, including his personal Boeing 757, called Tyson 1.

Air traffic controllers get details of plane arrivals with special call signs weeks in advance, but aren’t told precisely which plane is booked in.

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“There is a booking for an American military version of the Boeing 757 on January 19, the day before the inauguration,” an anonymous source told the Sunday Post. “That’s one that’s normally used by the vice-president but often used by the first lady. Presidential flights tend to get booked far in advance, because of the work that has to be done around it.”

Surveillance planes had been seen in November laying the groundwork for Trump’s arrival, the news outlet reported. A plane used for reconnaissance and intelligence was seen flying multiple times over Trump Turnberry golf course and landed on Nov. 12 at Prestwick Airport.

‘Coming to play golf is not what I would consider an essential purpose’

On Tuesday, the leader of Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was asked if Trump was headed her way and what might be her message to him?

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At her daily news briefing, Sturgeon said, “I have no idea what Donald Trump’s travel plans are, you’ll be glad to know.”

Then she added, “I hope and expect that his immediate travel plan is to exit the White House, but beyond that I don’t know.”

Sturgeon warned Trump that he might break the law if he comes: “We are not allowing people to come into Scotland now without an essential purpose, which would apply to him, just as it applies to everybody else. Coming to play golf is not what I would consider an essential purpose.”

Scotland, alongside Northern Ireland, Wales and England, are in lockdown, with stay-home orders, allowing people only to venture out for essential work or shopping, and to get a bit of exercise and attend medical appointments.

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If Trump departs the United States before the inauguration, it would be an unprecedented move for an outgoing president. Typically, the outgoing president participates in a show of peaceful transfer of power, shaking the incumbent’s hand and welcoming him to the White House, as did Barack Obama with Trump.

Barrack Obama salutes Donald Trump as they arrive for the beginning of the swearing-in ceremony of US 45th President in front of the Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2017.
Barrack Obama salutes Donald Trump as they arrive for the beginning of the swearing-in ceremony of US 45th President in front of the Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2017. Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

As well, it could be a way for the president to get the first leg of his trip funded by American taxpayers as he faces his crumbling business empire post-presidency.

The Trump Organization owns two golf resorts in Scotland, and one closest to the Glasgow Prestwick Airport is Trump Turnberry, a 112-year-old Scottish resort that he bought in 2014.

Turnberry, which includes a large Edwardian-era hotel and a historic seaside golf course, generates some of the most revenue among Trump’s small empire of hotels and clubs.

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Trump has spent more than $218 million on the property – $67 million to buy it in 2014, then lending the property another $150 million to keep it operating since. But the club has never turned a profit, according to public filings: Even in the boom times of 2019, it lost about $3 million for the year.

The resort has not released data for 2020, but it appears to have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, which caused the club to be shuttered for weeks in the spring, then again this winter, as Scotland entered another lockdown.

If Trump does plan to visit Turnberry in January, he probably will find it empty: The resort’s website now says, “To ensure the health and safety of our guests and associates, we have made the difficult decision to remain closed until Friday 5th February 2021.”

With files from The Washington Post.

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