"False alarm" as guests held at Trump International for bomb disposal checks
Golfers and journalists were among those held at the Menie Estate after the President's departure
Last updated 29th Jul 2025
Menie Estate was locked down this afternoon with members of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) on site.
The official opening ceremony of the New Course took place today, with Donald Trump in attendance
He left his Aberdeenshire estate at around 4.30pm, but other guests and members of the media were not allowed to leave Trump International for several hours.
Police Scotland said precautionary checks were carried out on a vehicle, as a security cordon was placed at the entrance of Menie Estate shortly after 3pm.
"False alarm"
In a statement released around an hour later, a spokesperson said: “This search has been completed, there was no criminality and the cordon has been removed."
However, those attending the ceremony were unable to leave because the main exit remained blocked off.
An update from Police Scotland then outlined: “As the cordon was being removed, military colleagues from EOD requested to carry out further checks on the vehicle.
"These remain ongoing and the decision has been taken to maintain the cordon at this time."
Less than 30 minutes after the previous update was released, a further update from a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have been advised by military colleagues in EOD that further searches of the vehicle have now been completed.
"Good intent"
"There is no risk and cordons are in the process of being lifted.
“It was a false alarm with good intent."
Guests and members of the media were then able to leave Trump International.
It comes after a five day visit of golf and politics for the US president, who arrived in Ayrshire on Friday evening, before heading to Aberdeenshire with Keir Starmer on Monday.
Donald Trump held meetings with the Prime Minister and European Commission president Ursela von der Lyon at his Turnberry resort, before flying on Airforce 1 to RAF Lossiemouth.
From there he and the Prime Minister flew in the Marine 1 helicopter to the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, where they were joined for dinner by the First Minister.
John Swinney and the President held talks on Tuesday, before the opening of the New Course at Menie, which Donald Trump described as “a masterpiece”.
He then took a brief helicopter trip back to RAF Lossiemouth, before continuing on his way back to the States.