Donald Trump: Not in my back yard

Donald Trump was branded a “hypocrite” yesterday after it emerged he is fighting the expansion of an airport near his Florida mansion.

Opponents of the American businessman’s £750million Aberdeenshire golf resort yesterday criticised Mr Trump’s “astonishing brass neck”.

The US property magnate’s team has vigorously campaigned for the expansion of Aberdeen Airport since his golf plans were announced in 2006.

Independent councillor Martin Ford, whose casting vote initially threw out the Trump organisation’s plans for the “world’s greatest golf course”, said he was “astonished” by the revelation and added: “That’s very strange, Mr Trump and his supporters were very critical of me for opposing airport expansion in Aberdeen.

“Clearly the boot is on the other foot. Maybe it gives Mr Trump some insight into how the residents at Menie feel, where he is not merely threatening to disrupt their lives, but threatening to take their homes as well.

“It’s astonishing, a breathtaking display of brass neck.”

It was revealed yesterday that the American Apprentice boss filed papers in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on Monday. Mr Trump accused county officials of failing to assess noise and associated pollution from jet engines at the Palm Beach International Airport near his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The complaint aims to block construction of a second runway and prevent planes flying over his properties. But the Trump Organisation has campaigned for the expansion of Aberdeen Airport to cope with the influx of guests to the north-east when the golf resort opens in 14 months’ time.

Johnny Agnew, 22, from Plane Stupid Scotland, said: “This is amazing hypocrisy.

“Donald Trump has been applauded by Aberdeen Airport and would significantly contribute to its expansion.

“He has also created a living nightmare for families who don’t know if they will spend their next Christmas in their own home.

“This new information that he is actually fighting to block airport expansion near his home shows that he can only act in self-interest. He shows complete disregard to the local community suffering and environmental degradation.”

Full Story: The Daily Express