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LONDON — Former U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to Scotland on Monday to open a brand new golf course at his resort close to Aberdeen, in his first abroad journey since he was indicted in New York on felony costs in a hush cash scheme.

Trump and his son Eric had been greeted by two pipers, a crimson carpet and a 10-vehicle motorcade at Aberdeen Worldwide Airport as they stepped off his non-public jet with an American flag painted on the tailfin.

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“It’s nice to be residence — this was the house of my mom,” Trump mentioned. His late mom, Mary, was born on the Isle of Lewis within the Outer Hebrides earlier than immigrating to the US.

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Trump’s journey coincides with the second week of a Manhattan civil trial over accusations he raped former journal columnist E. Jean Carroll in a division retailer dressing room in 1996. He denies the allegation and has not attended the trial, which is anticipated to final by means of the week.

It’s his first journey overseas since he grew to become the primary former U.S. president to face felony costs. He pleaded not responsible to 34 felony counts of falsifying enterprise data in a courtroom look final month. No journey restrictions had been positioned on him as a situation of launch, supplied that he exhibits up in courtroom for required appearances.

The hush cash case is only one of a number of investigations that would end in felony costs for Trump as he campaigns for a return to the White Home. His 2024 bid was high of thoughts as he previewed his journey to Aberdeen on his social media website.

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“Shall be assembly with many great pals, and reducing a ribbon for a brand new and spectacular second course in Aberdeen,” Trump wrote on his Reality Social platform. “Very thrilling even though it’s ‘make America nice once more’ that’s on my thoughts, in truth, America might be higher than ever earlier than.”

Trump’s go to to Scotland comes shortly after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, thought-about his high rival for the 2024 presidential nomination, returned residence from his personal worldwide journey. DeSantis, seeking to burnish his overseas coverage credentials, visited Japan, South Korea, Israel and the UK alongside together with his spouse, Casey.

As he nears a presidential bid of his personal, DeSantis’ journey differed from Trump’s in that it was geared toward producing profitable enterprise offers and in addition boosting the governor’s diplomatic resume forward of an anticipated presidential run.

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Whereas some allies initially believed DeSantis may wait till as late as early summer time to enter the race, they now count on him to announce as early as this month. Florida’s GOP-dominated Legislature just lately gave approval to a measure that may tweak state legislation to permit DeSantis to run for president with out resigning from the governorship.

When he leaves Scotland, Trump will head to his golf course in Doonbeg on Eire’s west coast.

Throughout his presidency, Trump got here below intense scrutiny for frequenting properties he owns and earnings from, giving them taxpayer-funded publicity and working up hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in taxpayer prices. In 2019, then-Vice President Mike Pence stayed at Trump’s Doonbeg resort at taxpayers’ expense, defending his resolution by saying it was a “logical” selection due to “the distinctive footprint that comes with our safety element and different personnel.”

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Meg Kinnard will be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP