The public local inquiry was ordered by Scottish ministers after Aberdeenshire Council last year rejected plans for the development at Menie Estate.

Mr Trump wants to build a development featuring two championship golf courses, a five-star hotel and hundreds of houses.

Environmental groups are critical of the proposals, suggesting that delicate sand dune systems would be destroyed.

But many leading business figures have voiced their support for Mr Trump's plans.

The tycoon travelled to Aberdeen after visiting his mother's former house in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis on Monday.

Although unwilling to talk about Tuesday's inquiry in detail, he said: "If with all the popularity it has - not just from the people but from politicians - it does not get accepted, it would be a very bad signal to the world in terms of investing in Scotland."

He also admitted that he would probably have walked away from his planned resort if his mother had not been from Scotland.

The inquiry will take place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre and is expected to last three to four weeks.

Among the organisations giving evidence will be Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust.