Trump to travel to Scotland for trade talks and a round on the links
Donald Trump heads to Scotland: diplomacy meets luxury golf
On Friday, 79‑year‑old billionaire Donald Trump will travel to Scotland, offering a blend of statecraft and his favorite pastime. The visit will take place at two Trump‑owned seaside golf resorts: Turnberry on the west coast and Aberdeen in the east.
Meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- Exact agenda still under wraps.
- Starmer aims to assess Trump’s intentions for trade, after the UK sidestepped the tariffs that hit other economies.
- January’s trade agreement in May, but Trump earlier this month hinted at “refining” the deal, sparking concerns in London.
Trump’s personal agenda
- During a White House visit, Trump was charmed by a letter from King Charles III, inviting him for a second state visit (Sept 17‑19).
- Scotland provides distance from the controversy over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and from criticism that failed to release case files.
- White House press pool excludes the Wall Street Journal after an article alleging a “bawdy” letter Trump allegedly sent to Epstein in 2003.
Public unrest and protest plans
- Protests scheduled for Saturday in Aberdeen and Edinburgh; authorities have mobilized a large police operation.
- Trump’s mother hails Scotland, yet the sentiment is not necessarily mutual.
- March vandalism at the Turnberry resort, with a message “GAZA IS NOT 4 SALE” sprayed across the golf course in response to Trump’s suggestion of relocating Palestinians.
- Trump Organization plans a new golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, sparking discontent among locals and environmentalists.
Ethics and business concerns
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) in May cited 21 Trump‑branded development projects to be carried out internationally during his second term.
- CREW noted that the Trump Organization’s ethics guidelines published in January did not prohibit the business from launching projects abroad with private interests, contrasting with a self‑imposed moratorium of such deals during Trump’s first term.
Trump’s trip to Scotland continues the pattern of mixing his presidential duties with the promotion of his family business since taking office in January.
