Scots to Trump: It's Not Us, It's You

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By Tom Acitelli

June 12, 2008 | 4:54 p.m

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Twentieth Century Fox.

It all started so promisingly for Donald Trump. He arrived in Scotland in 2006, trumpeting plans for the "world's greatest golf course" in the birthplace of golf--and the birthplace of his late mother, Mary MacLeod. He was feted for his efforts to pump over $2 billion into the local Aberdeen area economy and to create more than 6,000 jobs.

Now, the plans for the Trump International Golf Links (and assorted luxury housnig) seem in jeopardy. As the Wall Street Journal reports today, it's not just the farmer refusing to sell his land in what would be the middle of Mr. Trump's course or the government inquiry that's under way right now. No, it's Mr. Trump:

What's noticeable is that the many talents that have served Mr. Trump so well in America are nothing but a liability in Scotland. His skill for self-publicity as well as his irrepressible bullishness are perceived in Scotland as the most shameless posturing. As for his private jet, his limos and his mountain of personalized luggage, they are the complete antithesis of the sober Scottish way.