President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of wind energy during a visit to Scotland, asserting that windmills are “killing us” and urging Europe to abandon renewable energy initiatives. His comments reflect a longstanding grievance with wind projects near his golf courses.
On July 27, 2025, at a press conference held at his Turnberry golf course, Trump announced a trade agreement with the European Union. He criticized windmills for allegedly ruining America’s scenic landscapes and harming wildlife, while repeating unverified claims about their effects on marine life.
Trump expressed his frustration after reportedly seeing wind turbines from his golf course that morning. He mentioned spotting nine windmills from what he considers the world’s best golf course. The 79-year-old president also reiterated his belief that offshore wind projects harm whales, citing noise disturbance, despite federal reports debunking this claim.
Trump’s stance against wind energy is not new. In 2019, he erroneously suggested 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.”
His opposition to wind energy dates back over a decade, linked to his legal challenge against an offshore wind farm near his Aberdeen golf course in Scotland. Since 2011, Trump has opposed the construction of 11 wind turbines near his Menie golf course, arguing they would negatively impact Scotland’s tourism and economy.
However, Scotland has since increased its wind power generation to over half of its electricity needs and attracted nearly two million more tourists since 2011. The economic downturn Trump predicted did not occur. Despite losing his court case in 2019 and being ordered to pay the Scottish government’s legal fees, Trump has intensified his opposition to renewable energy upon returning to office.
The president also warned that Europe’s biggest issues are immigration and windmills, suggesting these challenges need resolution to avoid existential threats.
Trump’s actions align with his rhetoric, as he signed executive orders halting federal wind permits on his first day back in office. His administration also supported legislation that rolled back parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, removing tax incentives that had led to significant clean energy investments in the U.S.
Experts caution that scaling back clean energy initiatives could lead utilities to depend more on fossil fuels, potentially driving up electricity costs and increasing carbon emissions by billions of tons by 2030. The shift in policy also endangers numerous jobs in the renewable energy sector.
In 2012, Trump told a Scottish parliamentary committee that his personal judgment was the evidence for his claims about wind energy’s impact on tourism. When asked for supporting data, Trump stated: “I am the evidence,” positioning himself as a tourism authority.
Scottish officials, who have previously clashed with Trump over wind energy, express concern about the global impact of his presidency. Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, noted that Trump’s stance could hinder the U.S. in developing future energy technologies as nations like China advance in green technology investments.
During his Scotland visit, Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He also opened a new golf course named after his mother, blending official duties with promotion of his business interests.
Federal authorities, including the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Department of Energy, have consistently refuted Trump’s claims about wind energy’s impact on marine life, citing a lack of scientific evidence linking offshore wind projects to whale deaths or marine mammal harm.
Contrary to Trump’s assertions about the lifespan and recyclability of wind turbines, industry data shows that modern turbines typically last about 30 years and are 90 percent recyclable. The U.S. has over 70,000 wind turbines, making wind power the largest renewable energy source in the nation, contributing more than 10 percent to total electricity production.
