The Trump Organization said the controversy over the Scottish government's decision to "call in" the application -- meaning the government would have the final say on the matter -- endangered the project.

Trump vowed to build in Northern Ireland instead, The Independent reported.

In addition, Liberal Democrats called or an independent inquiry into the Scottish government's handling of the project.

First Minister Alex Salmond, who heads the Scottish cabinet, may be the subject of the investigation, The Scotsman newspaper of Edinburgh reported.

Salmond has been under pressure over his role in the progress of the development after it emerged he had met with Trump executives at a luxury hotel near Aberdeen Dec. 3 -- the day before ministers called in the application.

Shortly before, a local planning board vetoed Trump's plans, which call for a 2,000-acre seaside resort with two championship golf courses, a modern gothic hotel, 500 private homes nearby and 950 timeshare condominiums.

Salmond insisted he attended the meeting simply as a local member of the Scottish Parliament.