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24/06/2016 09:58 BST | Updated 24/06/2016 13:13 BST

Donald Trump Calls EU Referendum Result A 'Great Thing' After Touching Down In Scotland

Trump says the people of the UK have 'taken back their country'.

Donald Trump has said it is a "great thing" that the people of the UK have "taken back their country" in voting to leave the EU, after touching down in Scotland. 

The Republican presidential hopeful arrived by helicopter at his seaside Trump Turnberry resort Friday morning for its official opening, following a major refurbishment of the hotel and golf course.

While Trump largely received a warm welcome, dozens of protesters outraged by the American's anti-immigration stance, were also on hand to express their views. As was comedian Lee Harris who handed out golf balls covered in swastikas, before he was removed by security.

Nelson is infamous for creating a scene by throwing money at shamed former Fifa executive Sep Blatter and gatecrashing Kanye West's Glastonbury set last year. 

Trump, who arrived with his son Eric Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, and granddaughter Kai Trump, also called the decision "fantastic" and talked down concerns about the financial and political implications, saying "it's going to be a great thing". 

The BBC quoted Trump as saying the decision, which saw Leave beat Remain by 52% to 48%, was an "amazing vote, very historic".

He then added: "People are angry all over the world. They're angry over borders, they're angry over people coming into the country and taking over and nobody even knows who they are.

Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
Donald Trump wore a hat with his slogan 'Make America great again' as he arrived

 

"They're angry about many, many things in the UK, the US and many other places. This will not be the last."

Trump went on to say the UK divisions "will heal" as "it is a great place".

The broadcaster further quoted him as saying: "I said this was going to happen and I think it is a great thing.

"Basically, they took back their country. That's a great thing."

Trump claimed to have foreseen Britain leaving the EU, saying "I could see this happen". He further said he could now see the EU "breaking up".

"I think it's going to end up being a very good thing, but it's going to take some time."

Trump also commented on US President Barack Obama earlier entering into the Brexit debate, saying he should have done it.

"It's not his country, it's not his part of the world. He shouldn't have done it," he reportedly said. 

Hundreds of protesters, who accuse Trump of "racism and bigotry" during his presidential bid, were expected to protest his arrival, but the number was said to have been less than 50. Earlier this year, almost 587,000 people signed a petition calling for the billionaire to be banned from entering Britain.

Speaking in advance of his arrival, protesters said Trump was not welcome, one claiming the property magnate had “ramped up levels of racism, Islamophobia, and bigotry” during his run for the White House.

Carlo Allegri / Reuters
Trump with his son Eric Trump (R) after arriving at Turnberry Golf Course

Trump’s proposed policies include building a wall on the country’s border with Mexico and temporarily banning Muslims from entering America.

The protest is supported by a number of organisations, including Stand Up to Racism Scotland, the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees and Unite the Union Scotland.

Scotland is Trump's ancestral home, with the 70-year-old's mother born on Scotland's Isle of Lewis. 

Trump added his name to the Ayrshire hotel and Open golf course after buying the resort for an undisclosed fee in 2014.

The mogul's business links with Scotland began a decade ago as he promised to create a legacy to his mother Mary MacLeod.

Donald Trump's full statement: The people of the United Kingdom have exercised the sacred right of all free peoples. They have declared their independence from the European Union, and have voted to reassert control over their own politics, borders and economy. A Trump Administration pledges to strengthen our ties with a free and independent Britain, deepening our bonds in commerce, culture and mutual defense. The whole world is more peaceful and stable when our two countries – and our two peoples – are united together, as they will be under a Trump Administration. Come November, the American people will have the chance to re-declare their independence. Americans will have a chance to vote for trade, immigration and foreign policies that put our citizens first. They will have the chance to reject today’s rule by the global elite, and to embrace real change that delivers a government of, by and for the people. I hope America is watching, it will soon be time to believe in America again.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson, disrupts a press conference being held by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson, disrupts a press conference being held by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
    Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump arrives to his Trump Turnberry Resort on June 24, 2016 in Ayr, Scotland
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
    A bagpipe player wears traditional dress holding a hat in support of Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump as he awaits his arrival by helicopter 
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
    Trump surround by his family his son Eric Trump (R), granddaughter Kai Trump and daughter Ivanka Trump (L) arrive to his Trump Turnberry Resort
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
    A supporter of Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump takes a photo with her phone as she awaits his arrival by helicopter 
  • Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
    Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is welcomed as he arrives at his Turnberry golf course, in Turnberry, Scotland
  • Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
  • Carlo Allegri / Reuters
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
    Men wear red hats in support of Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump as they await his arrival 
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
    AYR, SCOTLAND - JUNE 24: A man wears a red hat in support of Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump as he awaits his arrival by helicopter to his Trump Turnberry Resort on June 24, 2016 in Ayr, Scotland. Mr Trump will officially open his golf resort which has undergone an eight month refurbishment as part of an investment thought to be worth in the region of two hundred million pounds. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
  • Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
    Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives at his Turnberry golf course, in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
  • Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
    Donald Trump arrives at Turnberry golf course in Scotland, Britain June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
  • Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
    AYR, SCOTLAND - JUNE 24: A man wears a red hat in support of Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump as he awaits his arrival by helicopter to his Trump Turnberry Resort on June 24, 2016 in Ayr, Scotland. Mr Trump will officially open his golf resort which has undergone an eight month refurbishment as part of an investment thought to be worth in the region of two hundred million pounds. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
  • Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
    Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is welcomed as he arrives at his Turnberry golf course, in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
  • Jane Barlow/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump lands by helicopter at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
    Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Turnberry golf course in Scotland, Britain June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump lands by helicopter at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Clodagh Kilcoyne / Reuters
    Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Turnberry golf course in Scotland, Britain June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    Security await the arrival of US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump hugs his son Donald Trump Jr, alongside his other son Eric, after speaking at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson, disrupts a press conference being held by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump arrives to speak at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Jane Barlow/PA Wire
    US presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at his revamped Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson, disrupts a press conference being held by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson, disrupts a press conference being held by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
  • Andrew Milligan/PA Wire
    Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson, disrupts a press conference being held by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at Turnberry hotel in South Ayrshire, where the Trump Turnberry golf course has been revamped.
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