The US tycoon flew in to the isle of Lewis and paid a visit to his late mother's former home near Stornoway.
Mary MacLeod Trump was born in Scotland and grew up on Lewis, before emigrating to the US in the 1930's.
Following the visit to the house, Mr Trump claimed he may well have given up on the project if it was not for his family roots.
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He said: "If it weren't for my mother would I have walked away from this site? I think probably I would have, yes.
"The reason I got involved was because of the feeling I have for Scotland. Possibly, had my mother not been born in Scotland, I probably wouldn't have started it."
Mr Trump has now moved on to Aberdeen to give evidence to the inquiry. His plans to build the huge resort on the Menie Estate have been fraught with controversy, with many environmental groups and local campaigners criticising the project. Many leading business figures, however, have publicly backed Mr Trump.
The inquiry is set to last several weeks.
(NS/JM)
