Trump Heads To Scotland For Golf And Bilateral Talks Amid Epstein Controversy

Trump Scotland Visit: US President Donald Trump is set to visit Scotland on Friday. While officially framed as a “working visit,” the tour will involve a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, with key topics including the US-UK trade deal, Ukraine, and Gaza. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the trip aims to “refine the historic US-UK trade deal,” though insiders believe no major breakthroughs—especially on steel tariffs—are expected.

The timing is notable: Trump’s second-term presidency is currently weathering intense scrutiny over his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, with bipartisan criticism and public distrust mounting. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests majorities across party lines suspect the US government is withholding key information about Epstein’s death in custody. Trump’s team hopes the overseas trip will help reduce media focus on the controversy.

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Golf, Heritage, And Strategic Optics

As part of his itinerary, Trump will visit Trump Turnberry, his resort on Scotland’s east coast, before heading to his Aberdeen property in the west, about 200 miles away. There, he will inaugurate a second 18-hole course named in honor of his Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. This is not Trump’s first time mixing golf and politics in Scotland—he made a similar trip in 2016 during his first presidential campaign. Trump has long referred to Scotland as a “very special place,” though public sentiment remains largely negative;only 18 per cent of Scots hold a favorable opinion of him, while 70 per cent view him unfavorably, according to a March Ipsos poll.

Diplomatic Balancing Act With Starmer

The Trump–Starmer meeting is being closely watched. The British prime minister has made strengthening relations with the US a priority since taking office, adopting a cooperative tone even amid Trump’s hardline trade stances. Their discussions are expected to include support for Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia—a topic where Trump’s recent rhetoric has reportedly shifted toward stronger support. The deteriorating situation in Gaza is also likely to come up.

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Protests And Future State Visit

While Trump will meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who notably supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, details of that meeting remain vague. Meanwhile, protests are expected across Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with Scottish police preparing for large demonstrations.Trump is scheduled to return to the UK from September 17–19 for a state visit hosted by King Charles, making him the first modern world leader to undertake two state visits to Britain. His previous state visit was in June 2019, hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.