Trump: British politicians should be thanking me
LONDON — Donald Trump says that British politicians "should be thanking me," after he was dropped as a business ambassador for Scotland and stripped of an honorary degree by a Scottish university.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon withdrew the Republican presidential candidate's business ambassador status Wednesday and the Robert Gordon University (RGU) in the northeastern city of Aberdeen revoked his honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree, awarded in 2010.
Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, provoked widespread outrage when he called for Muslims to be barred from entering the United States, which he said would be "temporary." He also said that parts of London are "so radicalized the police are afraid for their lives," drawing condemnation.
In an article in Scottish daily newspaper the Press and Journal Thursday, the real estate tycoon wrote: "I have done so much for Scotland, including building Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, which has received the highest accolades, and is what many believe to be one of the greatest golf courses anywhere in the world."
He also cites his "significant investment" in the redevelopment of his Turnberry Resort, a golfing retreat in South Ayrshire, western Scotland.
"If they – Nicola Sturgeon and RGU – were going to do this, they should have informed me prior to my major investment in this £200 million ($300 million) development, which will totally revitalise that vast region of Scotland," he said.
"The UK politicians should be thanking me instead of pandering to political correctness."
He added: "I have respect for the Moslem people and have great friendships with many Moslems, some of whom I do business with, but they themselves admit there is a major problem with radicalisation.
"As president, I will work with Moslem representatives to determine a solution to eradicate the terrorism that has plagued the credibility of the Moslem community."
Scotland Yard and London Mayor Boris Johnson dismissed Trump's statements about radicalization in London, and a Muslim group in Britain offered to organize a tour of London for Donald Trump and to pay for his lunch.
A petition to block Trump from entering the United Kingdom had more than 400,000 signatories Thursday, meaning the British parliament has to consider it for debate. Chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday said there are no plans to bar Trump from the country.
A spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron described Trump’s comments are “divisive, unhelpful and wrong."