Homeowner who provoked verbal attack by tycoon for refusing to sell development strikes back in kind

A Scottish homeowner allegedly called a “village idiot” by Donald Trump has retaliated calling the property tycoon a “New York clown”.

Michael Forbes is part of a group of local residents refusing to sell their homes to make way for Trump's controversial £1bn golf resort project in Scotland.

On the US TV show The Apprentice, which stars Trump, the tycoon said: “Over the years, my representatives and I have often seen Mr Forbes and he has always been dirty, sloppy and unkempt in his personal appearance and demeanour.

“We will not be distracted by the rants of the local village idiot and intend to vigorously defend any challenge to our project. He is a loser who is seriously damaging the image of both Aberdeenshire and his great country.”

Forbes retaliated this week saying: “If I am the village idiot then he must be the New York clown. He is just a child that's never grown up. I don't understand why he is getting his nappy all in a knot.”