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ITV News
14 minutes ago
- ITV News
Politics and protests: What to expect from Donald Trump's Scotland visit
Donald Trump will arrive in Scotland later on Friday, on his first visit to the UK since his re-election. The US president will be met by both political leaders and protests during the visit, which is expected to last five days, and will see him inaugurate a new golf course in Aberdeenshire. The trip comes two months before the King is due to welcome Trump for a formal state visit to the UK. The Trump administration continues to deal with turmoil on the home front, as the president struggles to salvage his reputation with voters amid reports around his friendship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. But Trump's visit to his ancestral home will hardly provide an escape from controversy. The visit has faced criticism from both political opponents and local residents, and will see a significant police operation across Scotland. Why is Trump visiting Scotland? Trump is expected to visit his Turnberry golf resort, as well as his course at Menie in Aberdeenshire. His trip also comes as a new golf course is about to debut on August 13, which the Trump family business has billed "the greatest 36 holes in golf." Trump is dedicating the new course to his Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis. But Trump's existing Aberdeenshire course has been mired in controversy in recent years, after it struggled to turn a profit, and was found by Scottish conservation authorities to have partially destroyed nearby sand dunes. Trump's company was also ordered to cover the Scottish government's legal costs after the course unsuccessfully sued over the construction of a nearby wind farm, arguing in part that it damaged golfers' views. Critics also argue the trip - which is expected to cost tens of thousands of dollars - is a blatant example of Trump blending his presidential duties with promoting his family's business interests. The White House has brushed off questions about potential conflicts of interest, arguing that Trump's business success before he entered politics was key to his appeal with voters. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers called his visit "a working trip", but added that Trump has "built the best and most beautiful world-class golf courses anywhere in the world, which is why they continue to be used for prestigious tournaments and by the most elite players in the sport." Who will Trump meet during his visit? The president will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his stay, when the pair are expected to discuss the UK-US trade deal. Trump said the meeting would likely take place at one of his properties. He will also meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The SNP leader previously said he would take the opportunity to raise various issues with the president, including tariffs, Gaza, and Ukraine. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides the opportunity to promote Scotland's tourism sector and economic investment potential, as well as to allow people to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice. "Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries," he said ahead of the visit. "The partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links - including, of course, with the president himself." The first minister said Scotland is a "proud democratic nation" that "stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world." Swinney has been vocally critical of the US president in the past, and openly endorsed Trump's political opponent Kamala Harris before last year's election - a move branded an "insult" by a spokesperson for Trump's Scottish businesses. John Swinney has argued that it is "in Scotland's interest" for him to meet the president, and for the visit to go ahead. But some Scots disagree, and a major police operation is being mounted during the visit in anticipation of protests. Thousands of officers are expected to be deployed by Police Scotland, who will deal with planned mass protests around Trump's golf courses and major Scottish cities. Trade unions, disability rights activists, climate justice campaigners, Palestinian and Ukrainian solidarity groups and American diaspora organisations are among those holding demonstrations in protest of the visit. The Stop Trump Scotland group has encouraged demonstrators to come to Aberdeen and 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' A spokesperson for the organisation said: "The people of Scotland don't want to roll out a welcome mat for Donald Trump, whose government is accelerating the spread of climate breakdown around the world." They also said that people in Scotland "simply wanted to live in peace near what is now [Trump's] vanity project golf course", and have "experienced Trump's abusive and high-handed behaviour first-hand, long before he entered the White House." Protests are planned in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dumfries. During Trump's visit to Scotland in 2018, similar gatherings drew thousands of protestors.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Trump to meet Starmer in low-key Scotland trip
President Donald Trump will meet Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland in what UK officials are describing as a low-key visit. The White House played down the significance of the meeting, saying the two leaders are unlikely to announce any major policy breakthroughs. The bilateral is instead being framed by officials as a relationship building opportunity ahead of Mr Trump's official state visit in September. Mr Trump will depart the White House on Friday for the four-day visit. He will spend the weekend at his Turnberry golf club before meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday. He will then fly to Aberdeenshire to open a new links course beside the North Sea, according to Steven Cheung, the White House communications director. Mr Trump will also meet with British media executives while in Scotland. Sir Keir and Mr Trump have developed a warm rapport and Mr Trump's meeting with Sir Keir is 'a recognition of the relationship that the US has with the UK,' Mr Cheung told The Telegraph. 'And, you know, I think he (Trump) genuinely likes him as a person. That's why they get along.' A British official familiar with plans in Scotland, said the trip was being treated more like a family visit than the arrival of a foreign head of state. The full pomp and circumstance will follow for the state visit in September, according to a British source. The trip will follow a simple structure without a big reception party on the airport apron, for example. Mr Cheung said the president was not arriving with any particular asks from the Prime Minister, other than having the chance to catch up and build on their earlier meetings. 'You know right now there really isn't anything specific issue-wise on the agenda,' he told The Telegraph. 'I'm sure they'll talk about foreign policy. I'm sure they'll talk about coming to peace agreements. I'm sure they'll talk about trade.' Mr Trump will travel with a full kit of secure communications equipment allowing him to stay in touch with officials at home and leaders around the world, Mr Cheung said. 'It's a working trip because there's a lot of business that's being done, a lot of interviews being done, meetings with Starmer,' he said. 'So it's a working trip,' he added. The pre-planned visit could not come at a better time for the president who is under intense political and media scrutiny in Washington over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The president's supporters have criticised Mr Trump's failure to make good on a campaign promise to release all of the files the government holds on the late paedophile financier. Mr Trump is likely to be eager to play a few rounds on his courses during the visit but is accustomed to playing golf in the sunnier climes of Florida and Virginia, near the White House. Scotland's weather forecast promises showers and heavy downpours for Turnberry at the weekend. Aberdeenshire however is still set to see sunshine for its grand opening. Mr Trump's constructive relationship with Sir Keir was forged despite the pair coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum. The UK secured the first deal with Washington to roll back steep trade tariffs and Mr Trump has been invited for a state visit. Sir Keir first met the then Republican candidate at Trump Tower for dinner in September last year and the two hit it off quickly. British officials are keen to point out that Sir Keir was the only leader to meet Mr Trump in his private quarters rather than on the terrace at Mar-a-Lago, his club in Florida, which is open to members. Sir Keir visited the president at the White House in February, when he presented Mr Trump with a state visit invitation from the King, much to Mr Trump's obvious delight. The grand opening of his second course at his Aberdeenshire resort will be held on Tuesday. The MacLeod Course is named in honour of Mr Trump's Scottish mother Mary. In a promotional video last year, Mr Trump said he believed adding a second 18 holes beside an existing course improved the chances of hosting tournaments. 'Having a second course of equal quality is a big advantage for [hosting] tournaments because they can use both of the courses,' he said. 'We'll have many, many championships here between both courses. I think it'll be a great success.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Trump's plans for his private five-day trip to Scotland
President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Scotland on Friday for a five-day private visit, concluding on Tuesday. His itinerary includes visits to his Turnberry and Menie golf courses, and the opening of a new course dedicated to his Scottish mother. The visit will involve a significant Police Scotland operation, with mass protests anticipated around his golf courses and major Scottish cities. Trump is expected to meet with Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss a UK-US trade deal, and First Minister John Swinney. First Minister John Swinney intends to use the meeting to address issues such as tariffs, Gaza, and Ukraine, while also promoting Scotland's tourism and economic potential.
