DONALD Trump’s claim that Sean Connery was instrumental in the building of one of the president’s Scottish golf courses has been dismissed by the chair of the planning committee.

Earlier today Trump tweeted a short tribute to Connery, which mentioned how the Scots actor had stepped in when Trump was “having a very hard time getting approvals” for a new development.

According to Trump, Connery said: “Let him build the damn thing.”

This intervention, the current US president said, meant “years of future turmoil was avoided”.

While Trump did not mention which Scottish development he was referring to, the overriding assumption in the media is that he meant his Aberdeenshire course.

READ MORE: 'Sean Connery stepped in to help me with Scots development', Donald Trump claims

In 2007, when the US mogul was lobbying for planning permission to build the “world's best golf course” on Scottish soil, the plans were initially rejected.

After the planning committee of local councillors rejected the plans, they were called in by the Scottish Government and ultimately passed.

In 2008, The Express reported that Connery was “delighted with the reversal”.

The paper then quoted Connery as saying: "During tough economic times, this is a major vote of confidence in Scotland's tourist industry and our ability to rise to the challenge.

"I look forward to seeing a new gem in the north-east that is good for Aberdeenshire and good for Scotland.

"It's exactly this kind of swift decision making and focus on boosting the economy and local job opportunities which shows that Scotland is an excellent place to do business."

However, Martin Ford, the Aberdeenshire councillor who was chair of the planning committee that initially refused Trump’s application, has now told the Guardian that anything Connery may have said was not a "material consideration".

READ MORE: 'No time for silly claims': Alex Salmond slams Trump's Sean Connery story

Ford said: “Mr Connery was not involved in the due process that led to the granting of planning permission for a golf resort at Menie.

“He did not submit a letter of representation to the council, appear at the planning hearing, or at the public local inquiry.

“Opinions offered in press articles are not material considerations in decisions on planning applications.”

Scottish Green MSP Patrick Harvie has said the Scottish Government needs to clarify whether Connery had an influence on its decision to call in and pass the application.

Harvie said: “Trump’s lies and delusions are often so bizarre that I wouldn’t believe him if he said that rain was wet.

"However if there is any possibility of truth to this claim then John Swinney, who was central to the decision to overturn the Scottish planning system to help Trump, needs to clarify the situation immediately.”