When Donald Trump re-won the USA presidency in final yr’s election, the Dumfries and Galloway Information in Scotland greeted the information with this headline: “South West Scotland Hotelier Turns into President Of America For Second Time”.
That extra playful method – an indication that the locals thought Trump, who owns luxurious golf programs in Scotland, an amusement – now appears to have soured.
The Nationwide, Scotland’s pro-independence newspaper, greeted his arrival for a four-day go to this week with the next headline: “Convicted US Felon To Arrive In Scotland”.
So why is Trump visiting Scotland, and what’s on the agenda for his journey?
How has Trump been acquired in Scotland?
Trump’s hyperlinks to Scotland return to his mom.
Whereas his father, Fred, was the son of German immigrants, Trump’s mom, Mary Anne MacLeod, was a Scottish immigrant to the US – born within the village of Tong on the Isle of Lewis.
Trump has made a lot of this connection and his love of Scotland, normally, whereas additionally making grand pledges about what his golf programs will do for tourism there.
On Friday, he arrived within the small Ayrshire village of Turnberry, the place he headed off for some golf, earlier than a gathering with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer for talks on commerce on Monday. Trump Turnberry has two golf championship programs – the Ailsa (4 occasions host to the Open Championship) and King Robert the Bruce.
Turnberry, a tiny place of about 200 folks, might have appeared like a great spot to flee wider troubles, as effectively. Trump nonetheless can’t shake off speculation, together with from many in his MAGA fan base, about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Final week, the Wall Avenue Journal claimed Trump had despatched Epstein a birthday notice that includes a unadorned lady and textual content which learn: “Completely happy Birthday – and will every single day be one other great secret.”
It reported {that a} guide given to Epstein in 2003 included letters from each Trump and Invoice Clinton.
On Friday, a Scottish reporter shouted at Trump: “Are you in Scotland to flee authorized issues?” He didn’t reply.
Some folks additionally turned as much as protest in opposition to his go to to Scotland on Friday. One protester in Turnberry was holding an indication that learn: “Scotland hated Trump earlier than it was modern.” Different protest indicators have been much less well mannered.
Stephen Flynn, a Scottish Nationwide Occasion MP who’s notably bald, stated he wouldn’t meet Trump since he could be busy “washing his hair”.
Dominic Hinde, an writer and journalist primarily based in Glasgow, stated: “Scotland doesn’t have to kowtow to the White Home in the best way that the Westminster bubble does. We are able to afford to be impolite in a approach that Keir Starmer can’t. He performed on his Scottish routes and anticipated to be welcomed like a king each time. His reception has solely received worse and worse. We don’t need a lot to do along with his type of politics.”
Due to this fuss and an assassination attempt throughout his election marketing campaign final yr, Turnberry grew to become momentary house to five,000 cops, military vans and street checkpoints on Friday. That is the largest and costliest safety operation because the demise of Queen Elizabeth II.
Trump additionally plans to go to his golf course in Balmedie, close to Aberdeen, in addition to a brand new course set to open in August, throughout his four-day journey that is because of finish on July 29.
Why are some Scots indignant with Trump?
A dispute between Trump and native folks started 14 years in the past over a plan to construct wind generators that will be seen from his golf course in Aberdeenshire. He needed them halted, calling them “monstrosities” that will solely harm tourism. He didn’t cease the wind farms, however he stays in opposition to each wind and solar energy.
Throughout earlier talks, Trump has requested Starmer to ditch wind and ramp up oil manufacturing. He claims offshore wind generators are “driving the whales loopy”. However round half of all Scotland’s electrical energy comes from wind.
Trump’s golf course in Aberdeenshire has additionally proved controversial. Conservation teams say the course has destroyed close by dunes. The course has additionally struggled to make a revenue or make use of as many individuals as had been hoped.
The Cease Trump Scotland protest group made its opposition to him clear on Friday. It stated: “The folks of Scotland don’t wish to roll out a welcome mat for Donald Trump, whose authorities is accelerating the unfold of local weather breakdown all over the world.”
What’s going to Trump focus on with the UK’s prime minister?
Talks with Keir Starmer will centre on refining a US-UK commerce deal made in June, which set a ten % tariff on British items going to the US.
It additionally expanded entry to US items within the British market and set tariffs on the primary 100,000 UK autos exported to the US yearly at 10 %, in contrast with 25 % for different nations.
In 2024, the UK shipped about 106,000 automobiles value 9 billion kilos ($12.1bn) – together with luxurious manufacturers corresponding to Jaguar, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin, to the US, based on automotive producers and the UK’s Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS).
The UK is now hoping to have a 25 % tariff on UK metal and aluminium lowered, though that already compares favourably with a 50 % obligation for the remainder of the world on the identical items.
Philip Shaw, an economist at Investec in London, stated: “The UK is in a comparatively good place in that Trump has raised most tariffs on UK exports by solely 10 % and that Britain is dealing with a ten % tariff on most of its automotive exports, and never 25 % levies, as the vast majority of different nations are. A superb end result could be a tariff-free commerce deal, however that will be tough to realize in regular circumstances, not to mention now.”
Trump has claimed that the UK will get a greater deal than different massive economies, saying on the Group of Seven (G7) summit in June: “The UK may be very effectively protected. why? As a result of I like them. That’s their final safety.”
On Friday Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated: “It’s in Britain’s nationwide curiosity to have sturdy relations with the US administration and because of each that long-term particular relationship, but additionally extra importantly, the work that our Prime Minister Keir Starmer has performed in constructing that relationship with President Trump has meant that we have been the primary nation on this planet to safe a commerce deal.”
Nonetheless, Kathleen Brooks, analysis director at UK funding group XTB, stated: “Whereas the UK was ‘blessed’ with an early commerce deal, it has not helped the UK’s financial predicament, as but.
“The actual fact Trump has come to Scotland because the EU continues to attend for affirmation about its tariff charges with the US is fascinating. Trump additionally has golf programs in Eire, so his selection to go to Scotland might be seen as a rebuttal to the EU. It might additionally deflect a number of the furore over the Epstein scandal.”
Some Trump acolytes have been vital of the UK normally, saying it lacks freedom of speech and that London has “no-go” zones. Starmer is believed unlikely to carry such issues up whereas he negotiates on commerce.
What else may come up?
Trump can be on account of meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who has made constructive noises, saying: “Scotland shares a robust friendship with the USA that goes again centuries. The partnership stays steadfast via financial, cultural and ancestral hyperlinks – together with, after all, with the president himself.”
He has additionally pledged to boost points past commerce, such because the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Trump will probably be again within the UK earlier than too lengthy, following this go to. A state go to with First Woman Melania is deliberate for September 17, when the president will probably be anticipated to fulfill King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Citadel.
