Scottish farmer trumps Trump

Michael Forbes, the unlikely hero of “You’ve Been Trumped," has won the Scotsman of the year award

Published December 3, 2012 5:42PM (EST)

Perennial loser Donald Trump is still a loser. This time, though, it's not a media company or a non-announcement announcement that makes him look bad. Instead, it is a small-town, 60-year-old Scottish farmer, Michael Forbes, who has quietly shown up the Donald.

Forbes gained fame after appearing in “You’ve Been Trumped,” a documentary that chronicled Trump's attempt to steamroll a Scottish community in order to build a golf course. Forbes emerged as one of the movie's unlikely heroes when he refused to sell his farm or succumb to Trump's bullying. Of course, this incited the always-incited Trump, who resorted to calling Forbes' farm "disgusting."

The New York Times reports that last week Forbes earned the "Top Scot" award, honoring him as Scotsman of the year in a poll sponsored by whiskey maker Glenfiddich and the newspaper the Scotsman. The award's previous recipients include the likes of "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling and viral singing sensation Susan Boyle. Forbes, who was “a real people’s choice,” beat out contenders like tennis star Andy Murray and cyclist Sir Chris Hoy.

Of Trump, Forbes told the Scotsman, “I took an instant dislike to him. He called me a village idiot and accused me of living in a pigsty, but I think everyone knows by now that he’s the clown of New York.”

And all of Scotland, it seems, agrees.


By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

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Casinos Donald Trump Farming Michael Forbes Scotland You've Been Trumped