President Donald Trump recently criticized wind energy during his visit to Scotland, claiming that windmills are detrimental and urging Europe to halt renewable energy projects near his golf properties.
On July 27, 2025, during a press conference at his Turnberry golf course, Trump criticized wind turbines, asserting that they harm America’s scenic landscapes and wildlife. He reiterated unsubstantiated claims about their negative effects on marine life while announcing a trade agreement with the European Union.
Trump expressed frustration after observing wind turbines from his golf course that morning, noting the presence of nine windmills on the horizon. The 79-year-old president reiterated his theory that offshore wind installations negatively impact whales, claiming that noise from wind farms affects marine mammals, despite federal agencies’ findings of no scientific support for this assertion.
In the past, Trump has been vocal in his opposition to wind energy, including a false claim in 2019 that wind turbines cause cancer.
“The wind, the wind, it sounds so wonderful,” he said. “The wind, the wind, the wind is, the wind is ***, I’ll tell you.”
Trump’s opposition to wind energy dates back over a decade, stemming from a legal dispute over an offshore wind farm near his Aberdeen golf course in Scotland. Starting in 2011, Trump opposed the construction of 11 wind turbines near his Menie golf course, arguing they would harm Scotland’s tourism industry and labeling them “monstrosities” that would negatively impact the country’s economy.
Contrary to Trump’s predictions, Scotland now produces over half of its electricity from wind power, has seen an increase of nearly two million tourists since 2011, and has avoided the economic downturn Trump predicted. Despite losing his court case in 2019 and being ordered to cover the Scottish government’s legal expenses, Trump has intensified his remarks against renewable energy since resuming the presidency.
Trump suggested that immigration and windmills are Europe’s two significant challenges, warning that failure to address these issues could have severe consequences for the continent.
In alignment with his rhetoric, Trump signed executive orders on his first day in office to halt all federal wind permits in the United States. His administration has also backed legislation dismantling much of the Inflation Reduction Act, eliminating tax incentives that facilitated significant clean energy investments nationwide.
Energy experts caution that Trump’s renewable energy policies extend beyond personal grievances with Scottish wind farms. Curtailing clean energy development, they warn, could increase reliance on fossil fuels, raise household electricity costs, and add billions of tons of carbon emissions by 2030, threatening jobs in the renewable energy sector.
During a 2012 appearance before a Scottish parliamentary committee, Trump defended his opposition to wind energy by declaring himself the evidence for his claims. When asked for data supporting his assertions about tourism damage, Trump stated: “I am the evidence.” He described himself as a tourism expert whose personal judgment should be considered sufficient proof of wind energy’s harmful effects.
Scottish politicians who engaged with Trump on the wind farm issue have expressed concerns about the global impact of his presidency. Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, suggested that Trump’s opposition to renewable energy could hinder the United States’ progress in developing future energy technologies, particularly as countries like China invest heavily in green technology.
Trump’s Scotland visit included meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the inauguration of a new golf course named after his mother. The trip combined diplomatic engagements with the promotion of his golf properties, raising questions about the intersection of presidential duties and private business interests.
Federal agencies have repeatedly refuted Trump’s claims about wind energy’s impact on marine life. The National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Energy have stated there is no scientific evidence linking offshore wind development to whale deaths or other marine mammal fatalities.
Despite Trump’s comments on wind turbine longevity and recyclability, industry data show that modern wind turbines typically operate for about 30 years and are 90 percent recyclable. The United States currently has over 70,000 wind turbines, with wind power being the largest renewable energy source in the country, generating over 10 percent of total electricity.
