AMERICANS are being urged to “keep a low profile” during Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland and England amid fears widespread protests may turn violent.

The alert from the US Consulate in Edinburgh came as Downing Street expressed confidence that the US President would be safe during his weekend stay north of the border when he is expected to play golf at his family’s course at Turnberry In Ayrshire.

Asked if it believed Mr Trump would be secure as he played on a golf course, Theresa May’s deputy spokeswoman said: “Yes. We are working closely with Police Scotland on ensuring security of the visit is well-organised.”

Protests set to involve thousands of people are planned for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee this Friday and Saturday. The largest protest and rally is planned for Trafalgar Square.

Although the President is not due to land in Britain until later today, protesters from the Stand Up to Racism group staged a demonstration at Turnberry on Wednesday, branding him the “world's number one racist”.

A UKwide YouGov poll for ITV’s Tonight programme showed 77 per cent of Britons had an unfavourable view of Mr Trump.

Alex Salmond, the former First Minister, said: “You can’t cosy up to him because you’ll be contaminated by whatever daft thing he does next.”

No 10 insisted the presidential two-day stay in Scotland was the “private element” of his UK visit. The only diplomatic encounter will involve being greeted at Glasgow Prestwick Airport by David Mundell on Friday evening.

The Scottish Secretary said: “The President’s visit is an opportunity to strengthen vital links with one of our most important global allies. The President's Scots heritage ?is well-known and I hope he enjoys his visit to Scotland.”

But in a joint statement, Richard Leonard for Scottish Labour and Patrick Harvie for the Scottish Greens said: “All avenues must be used to ensure Donald Trump does not receive a welcome here.”

They called on the Scottish Government, which owns Prestwick, to deny him access to it. This, they argued, would “send the most powerful message possible that Donald Trump is not welcome in Scotland".

Meanwhile, in its “alert” the US consulate urges US citizens to: be aware of their surroundings; exercise caution if unexpectedly near large gatherings that “may become violent”; “keep a low profile” and monitor local media for updates.

The PM’s spokeswoman brushed aside any notion the President’s decision not to meet Nicola Sturgeon was a snub to the First Minister. “The President’s Scottish heritage is well-known and he is very proud of his Scottish roots and it’s right he wants to spend some time there,” she said.

No 10 stressed Mrs May would use the visit to highlight the strength of the transatlantic relationship, covering defence, security and trade.

Among one of the events Mr Trump will attend on Friday morning will be a joint counter-terrorism display by UK and US special forces at an undisclosed location.

Ahead of the visit, Mrs May said post-Brexit there would be no stronger alliance than that with America.

“The UK and the US already have a uniquely close partnership in the fight for democracy and global security and we share a global outlook across the vast majority of foreign policy issues.”

The PM said the trade and investment relationship was unrivalled, adding: “As two nations, we are safer, more prosperous and more creative when we work together and I am looking forward to this week’s important discussions.”

After a fractious Nato summit in Brussels, Mr Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, will arrive in London on Thursday afternoon. In the evening they will attend a black-tie dinner at Blenheim Palace near Oxford.

On Friday, following the security demonstration, the President and the First Lady will travel to Chequers, where Mr Trump will hold bilateral talks with Mrs May before a working lunch and followed by a press conference.

As the President attends the security event, his wife will be in London, visiting local schoolchildren and armed forces veterans.

After Chequers, Mr and Mrs Trump will then move onto Windsor Castle for tea with the Queen before boarding Air Force One for the journey to Scotland.

Precise details of Mr Trump’s stay north of the border until Sunday have not been disclosed but it is thought he will stay at Turnberry to play golf.

An aircraft ban on low-flying issued by the Civil Aviation Authority on the grounds of security during the presidential visit covers not only central London but also Turnberry and Glasgow Prestwick airport.

At Westminster, the SNP’s Ian Blackford urged the UK Government to challenge the President over his “abysmal record on human rights, his repugnant attitude towards women and his disgusting treatment of minorities”.

David Lidington, the Cabinet Office Minister, talked up the special relationship, saying: “Because of the security co-operation we have with the United States, there are UK citizens who are alive today who might well not be alive had that co-operation and information-sharing not taken place, and it is therefore right that we welcome the duly elected president of our closest ally as we shall do so tomorrow."