Three theories about Trump's plan to build an entire village in rural Scotland

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Glad that @MddeH took the time to dissect the possible reasons behind @realDonaldTrump's company's recent announcement of a huge new housing development at a money-losing golf course on the northeast coast of Scotland.

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THREAD: Last month, the Trump Organization announced it was spending $200m to build what's basically a small town next to his golf course in rural Scotland. It's very weird, for the following reasons:

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WELCOME TO MACTRUMPTOWN

Three theories about Trump’s plan to build an entire village in rural Scotland

By Max de Haldevang 3 hours ago

Last month, the Trump Organization announced something strange: a plan to build an entire town in rural Scotland, with a kitsch design that blends American suburbia with Scottish oil country. The price was $200 million, but where the Trumps will get that cash is a mystery.

It’s the latest in a string of Scottish investments which appear to make little business sense. The Trump Organization has already shelled out hundreds of millions on two golf courses in the country in the last 12 years, and both have performed terribly. The new project would see the US president’s company build 500 houses, plus swaths of commercial and leisure buildings, on the same estate that houses his Aberdeen golf course.

Trump Aberdeen was Trump’s first big investment in his mother’s homeland. Since he bought the piece of land in 2006 for $12.6 million in cash, according to the Washington Post (paywall), it has performed terribly: His company says it invested £100 million in building a golf course and club house there—the Post estimates a sum closer to $50 million (£38 million at current rates)—and the course has lost money every year since opening in 2012, racking up total losses of £7.1 million, according to its filings.

That didn’t stop Trump making an even more disastrous investment on the Scotland’s West coast: Trump Turnberry golf course, which he bought in 2014 for a reported £37.5 million in cash. Turnberry has lost nearly £30 million ($39 million) under Trump’s ownership. Trump claims he has spent £200 million fixing up the place; his project manager says it’s more like £140 million (paywall). Turnberry’s financial filings say Trump has loaned the course £112 million. ... There seems to be little chance of turning around the courses’ fortunes; golf’s popularity in Scotland has been plummeting for a decade.
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[The Genealogist]

1. He wants to build a village, eh? Well, theyll have the village idiot position filled when he visits

[Turbineguy]

2. Mariscal Estigarribia

They have a nice airport that will take his plane.

[mr_lebowski]

3. Launder some Russian Cash, perhaps?

[Farmer-Rick]

5. Gota put all that Russian stolen loot somewhere

While the average Russian barely makes $700 a month, Putin's stashing even more millions into Tump.

[ChazInAz]

8. Not a new idea in Russia.

Just building a little Potemkin village.
It's a win-win! He can launder some Russian money and simultaneously impress potential investors who don't look to closely at the false fronts.

[Sneederbunk]

4. Does it have an underground bunker?

[Buzz cook]

6. That's been the plan from the start.

The money is in selling condos and fancy golf course houses. The golf courses were just the camels nose to get to the final goal.

But Trump may get a real Scots seeing to, because the local authorities have been blocking development for several years now.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/07/scotland-is-blocking-the-expansion-of-donald-trumps-golf-empire/

[lagomorph777]

7. Potemkin village?

[ChazInAz]

9. Guess I'm not the first

Should have scrolled all the way to the end!

[lagomorph777]

11. That's OK - I'll give you extra credit if you can identify the Village in the photo.

[SCantiGOP]

10. The people of Scotland despise him

Are there enough rich asshole Americans to buy out the development?