Press release: Protests for Trump’s Scotland visit to take place on Saturday 26th

Campaign groups planning a “festival of resistance” to coincide with Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Scotland have announced demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh on Saturday 26 July. The Stop Trump Coalition have announced their official demonstrations at the following locations:

Attendees can expect powerful speeches, music from artists including Aberdeen’s multicultural fusion band the Melting Pot Collective, and creative and vibrant protest, and are encouraged to bring along placards, banners, and friends. 

With Trump expected to arrive in Scotland between July 25–29, trade unions, disability rights activists, climate justice campaigners, Palestinian and Ukrainian solidarity groups, and American diaspora organisations are among those now organising multiple days of events to give him a fitting welcome.

The coalition has called on First Minister John Swinney not to meet with the US president, whose authoritarian administration has links to the far-right across the UK and Europe.

Local groups will also be organising a variety of protests across Trump’s visit, with plans for demonstrations to take place in Aberdeenshire on Monday 28 July. Dumfries TUC have also called a demonstration on Sat 26th, 2pm adjacent to the Plainstanes, DG1 2BH. 

Campaigners across the country warn they are prepared to respond to Trump’s agenda and stand ready to meet him with loud protest wherever he goes on his visit to Scotland.

Alena Ivanova, a campaigner with the Stop Trump Coalition said:
“Donald Trump may shake hands with our leaders, but he’s no friend of Scotland. We, the people of Scotland, see the damage he has done – to democracy and working people in the US, to the global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, to the very principles of justice and humanity. As ICE agents destroy families and neighbourhoods in the US, we here in Scotland are welcoming those that want to join our communities. As he dreams of rivieras built on the bones of Palestinians, we demand an end to the genocide. Trump is not welcome because he represents all that Scottish people reject. We call on everyone to join us and protest Trump, his politics and his ushering of a global far right. We gather to call for real democracy, for climate action, for just peace and for our own elected leaders to stand up to Trumpism.”

Liz Murray, head of Scottish campaigns at Global Justice Now who are a part of the Stop Trump Coalition said:
“Trump is bullying his way around the world, slapping tariffs on countries, or threatening to – and that includes us here. He’s using these threats to impose the interests of his oligarch friends on us – and in particular the Big Tech barons who have his ear – when actually governments should be taxing them and reining in their power. It’s vital that both Keir Starmer and John Swinney stand up to him – because if they give him an inch on this or anything else he’ll take a mile.”

Available for interview
Alena Ivanova, campaigner with Stop Trump Coalition. Based in Glasgow, will be in attendance in Aberdeen.

Liz Murray, head of Scottish campaigns at Global Justice Now, part of the Stop Trump Coalition. Based in Edinburgh.

Anita Bhadani, campaigner at Global Justice Now, part of the Stop Trump Coalition. Based in Glasgow, will be in attendance at Edinburgh.

Tommy Campbell, campaigner with Stop Trump Coalition. Based in Aberdeen, will be in attendance in Aberdeen.

Jack Angus Nevin, campaigner with Stop Trump Coalition. Based in Edinburgh, will be in attendance in Edinburgh. 

Notes to editor

  1. Stop Trump Coalition is a group of campaigners across the UK determined to resist Trump and Trumpism. 

Media contacts
press@stoptrump.org.uk