Michael Forbes (farmer) explained

Michael Forbes
Birth Date:c. 1952
Nationality:Scottish
Known For:refusal to sell his land to Donald Trump

Michael Forbes (born circa 1952) is a farmer, part-time salmon fisherman and quarry worker from near Balmedie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who became known after his refusal to sell his land to Donald Trump for a golf course and resort.

Biography

Forbes rose to fame for refusing to sell his land to Donald Trump, who was planning to build an extensive luxury golf course complex in the area with assistance from the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond.[1] [2] [3] Forbes's farm, which is said by Trump to be in a state of disrepair,[4] has the words "NO GOLF COURSE" painted on a shed.[5]

Forbes refused Trump's offer of a one-time payment of £450,000 in addition to a yearly salary of £50,000 for an unspecified job.[6] The plans to build the golf complex were rejected in late November 2007 by Aberdeenshire Council but were later called in by the Scottish Government, which approved the project in November 2008.[7] Forbes has been compared to the beachcomber character in the film Local Hero.

The Trump Organization at one point threatened to try to use a compulsory purchase order to forcibly remove him and his family from their land, as well as other nearby residents.[8] Trump claimed that Forbes' property was a slum that would spoil the view from his new hotel. Forbes retorted that Trump can "take his money and shove it up his arse."[9] The Tripping Up Trump Campaign was formed to challenge the Trump Organization on the issue. Hundreds of people bought small interests in Forbes' property and became co-owners, with the intention of making it more difficult to transfer the title to the land.[10]

Awards

In 2012, Forbes won the 'Top Scot' award at the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards,[11] provoking Trump to criticise Glenfiddich, calling it a "terrible embarrassment to Scotland".[12]

In popular culture

Forbes and his struggle with Trump featured in the 2011 documentary You've Been Trumped, directed by Anthony Baxter and produced by Richard Phinney.[13] His portrait by Alicia Bruce with his wife, Sheila, is held in the National Galleries of Scotland collection.[14]

Forbes was also featured on the HBO news magazine, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Why did it take Alex Salmond so long to turn on Donald Trump? . Anthony . Baxter . 2015-12-20 . The Guardian . 2017-03-13 . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  2. News: Man in the middle stays put to defy Trump's golf dream . Martyn . McLaughlin . Frank . Urquhart . 22 November 2007 . The Scotsman . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605071404/http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Man-in-the-middle-stays.3539762.jp . June 5, 2011.
  3. Web site: Trump's Billion-Pound Scottish Resort May Get Backing . Peter . Woodifield . November 29, 2007 . Bloomberg.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020061418/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a2cUvoti4hoI&refer=uk . 20 October 2012.
  4. News: Neighbourhood watch – Trump moves in next to 'local hero' . Severin . Carrell . 29 December 2008 . The Guardian.
  5. Web site: The Scottish fisherman who didn't want to play golf . 25 November 2007 . Scenta.co.uk . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071129010313/http://www.scenta.co.uk/Nature/1710041/the-scottish-fisherman-who-didnt-want-to-play-golf.htm . 29 November 2007.
  6. News: Scotsman says he will not sell his land to Donald Trump for golf course . Ellen . Tumposky . Corky . Siemaszko . November 21, 2007 . New York Daily News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20071224101927/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2007/11/21/2007-11-21_scotsman_says_he_will_not_sell_his_land_.html . December 24, 2007.
  7. Web site: Trump's £1bn golf resort approved . BBC News . 3 November 2008.
  8. News: Anthony . Baxter . Molly Forbes obituary . The Guardian . 5 May 2021 . en . 5 May 2021.
  9. News: Donald Trump's plea to homeowners on the Menie Estate . 12 November 2010 . The Scotsman . . 2015-11-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120424195159/http://www.scotsman.com/news/donald-trump-s-plea-to-homeowners-on-the-menie-estate-1-1370270 . April 24, 2012.
  10. News: Here's Why Donald Trump Should Expect a Chilly Reception in Scotland . D'Antonio . Michael . 22 June 2016 . . 15 September 2016.
  11. Web site: 30 November 2012 . Donald Trump golf opponent Michael Forbes wins 'Top Scot' award . BBC News.
  12. Web site: 5 December 2012 . Donald Trump criticised Glenfiddich over Michael Forbes award . 8 December 2012 . BBC News.
  13. News: Movie Review: 'You've Been Trumped,' About Donald Trump . The New York Times . 1 August 2012 . 2015-11-16 . 0362-4331 . Stephen . Holden.
  14. Web site: Artworks: Alicia Bruce . National Galleries of Scotland.
  15. Web site: Porter . Kyle . Scottish residents frustrated with Trump construction on countryside . 30 April 2016 . CBS Sports.com . 20 April 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160601145400/https://www.cbssports.com/golf/eye-on-golf/25561260/scottish-residents-frustrated-with-donald-trump-construction-on-countryside . June 1, 2016.

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