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Donald Trump hails Brexit vote as 'a great thing' as he arrives in Scotland

Donald Trump declared the Brexit vote a "great thing" as he arrived in the UK this morning.

Donald Trump hails Brexit vote as 'a great thing' as he arrives in Scotland
EU referendum result: Donald Trump hails Brexit vote as 'a great thing' as he arrives in UK

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Donald Trump declared the Brexit vote a "great thing" as he arrived in the UK this morning.

The billionaire hailed the decision to leave the Eureopean Union as he arrived in Scotland this morning, saying Britons "took back their country".

He flew in for the £200 million reopening of Trump Turnberry golf course, which he added his name to after buying the course in 2014.

When asked about the referendum result shortly after David Cameron's resignation, the US presidential candidate: “I said this was going to happen and I think this is a great thing. Basically they took back their country.

"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.

"They're angry about many, many things in the UK, the US and many other places.

"This will not be the last."

Landing by helicopter on the front lawn of the course, Trump strode up to the Ayrshire hotel with his family in a "Make America Great Again" cap.

Trump said he hoped America was watchingAndrew Milligan/PA

A crowd of dozens of people gathered outside the course before Trump’s arrival with "No To Racism" placards.

The campaigners said Trump was not welcome, claiming his presidential bid had ramped up levels of racism and Islamophobia.

Although the UK as a whole voted for Brexit, Scotland overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU, with 62 per cent of the country’s vote.

Protesters tell Trump he is 'not welcome' in Scotland Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Donald Trump also pledged to strengthen ties with Britain should he be elected as president in a statement.

The statement said: “They (the UK) 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 (sic).

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“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.”

He added: “I hope America is watching, it will soon be time to believe in America again.”

A petition to ban Trump from the UK was debated in Parliament after it was signed by nearly 600,000 people.

Mr Trump has caused controversy throughout his presidential campaign, calling for a wall to be built between the US and Mexico and for a ban on all Muslims entering the US.

He has previously said he would make an exception for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan who has criticised Trump over his "extreme views".