Palestine Action Activists Accused of Vandalism at Trump Turnberry Face Terrorism Accusation
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-08-28 08:11:00 — www.nytimes.com
Donald Trump Labels Pro-Palestinian Protesters as “Terrorists” After Vandalism at Scottish Golf Resort
In the wake of vandalism at his Trump Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, President Trump described the pro-Palestinian activists involved as “the terrorists who attacked the beautiful Turnberry,” asserting that “they did serious damage, and will hopefully be treated harshly.” This statement came after seven members of the protest group Palestine Action broke into the resort in March 2025, damaging turf, sprinklers, and spraying the clubhouse with red paint, along with the message “Gaza is not 4 sale.”
Trump’s public characterization of the activists as terrorists aligns with the approach taken by both British and U.S. authorities. Following the incident, British prosecutors charged the activists with malicious damage to property and argued that the acts were “aggravated by reason of having a terrorist connection,” potentially exposing the accused to harsher sentences. Days later, the U.K. government officially banned Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, a move that sparked heated debate over free speech and the right to protest.
The Trump administration subsequently mirrored the U.K.’s decision, designating Palestine Action as a terrorist organization as part of what it called “Action Against Violent Far-Left Terrorist Networks.” The administration stated that this decision “complements the U.K.’s proscription.”
Critics, including human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, have condemned the use of terrorism laws in this context as disproportionate. Felix Jakens, director of communications at Amnesty International, argued that it was “completely disproportionate to equate painting on a golf course with terrorism,” warning that a terrorism sentence “stays with you for life” and expressing shock at the severity of potential punishments for nonviolent protest.
Legal experts note that British terrorism laws, originally intended for violent crimes, are now being applied to acts of property damage by political protesters, raising difficult questions about where to draw the line between protest and terrorism.
Trump’s labeling of the activists as terrorists and his call for harsh treatment reflect his broader pattern of using inflammatory language and supporting aggressive legal action against protest groups, even when their actions are nonviolent. This approach has intensified debate in both the U.K. and the U.S. over the balance between security and civil liberties.
As the legal proceedings continue, the case stands as a high-profile example of how Trump’s rhetoric and policy positions can influence and escalate the response to political protest, both domestically and abroad.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/world/europe/palestine-action-trump-golf-course.html