Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

‘He had lovely parents, I don’t know what went wrong with him’: Trump’s distant Scottish cousin blasts president as selfish man who stole pancakes

‘I don’t like the man at all,’ says Alice Mackay, who remembers billionaire's mother fondly

Paul Rodger
Sunday 15 September 2019 16:25 BST
Comments
Donald Trump waves to screaming protesters at Turnberry in Scotland

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A distant cousin of Donald Trump has described him as a selfish man who stole pancakes and "wouldn’t give a penny" back to his mother’s native community in Scotland.

The US president last visited his late mother’s former home of Tong on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides for around three hours in 2008.

He spent just 97 seconds in the croft house where Mary Anne MacLeod Trump was raised alongside nine siblings before she emigrated to the US in 1930.

And Alice Mackay – who is related to Mr Trump’s maternal family line, the MacLeods – said the billionaire reality TV star was radically different to his mother and father.

“I don’t like the man at all,” said Ms Mackay, 79. “He had lovely parents, I don’t know what went wrong with him.”

Ms Mackay explained: “My mum and dad were second cousins. Every time they were over here they came to ours for dinner.

“He [Donald Trump] was here one morning I was busy making pancakes and he had forgotten my husband had died.

“He put a few pancakes in pocket and never said ‘cheerio’ or anything.”

Ms Mackay also claimed Mr Trump also failed to demonstrate the generosity of his mother and older sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, 82, who both maintained close links with the area and gave made significant donations to Lewis.

“They were a lovely pair,” she said. His sister gave a big donation to the hospice. Mary Anne gave money to the Tong centre as well. She was a lovely woman.

“They also asked Donald but he wouldn’t give a penny.”

Ms Mackay said that Mary Anne Trump came back to Tong every summer and stayed for a few months.

“She never forgot her roots and actually wanted to be buried here but I think it was too much of an expense at the time and I don’t think her husband wanted it,” she added.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Mr Trump made his fleeting trip to Lewis 11 years ago while en route to give evidence at a public inquiry into his contentious inaugural Scottish golf resort.

A delegation from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles council, met with him to discuss their plans to convert Lews Castle, a mock baronial mansion, into a hotel and museum.

Mr Trump promised to “look at it”, but the council never heard from him again.

SWNS

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in