Trump completes golf round ahead of EU trade talks

43 minutes ago Share Save Mary McCool BBC Scotland News James Cook • @BBCJamesCook Scotland editor Share Save

Trump plays his second round of golf this weekend at Turnberry before EU trade deal talks later.

Donald Trump has played another round of golf on the second full day of his visit to Scotland ahead of trade talks with the EU Commission president. Despite showery conditions, the US president finished 18 holes at Turnberry in South Ayrshire with guests and family, including his son Eric. A small group of pro-Trump protesters gathered in the grounds of the resort with a placard which read “President Trump don’t trust Starmer”. It is believed Trump’s only major business meeting on Sunday will be with Ursula von der Leyen‬, who has said they will discuss “transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong”.

Reuters Donald Trump tackled Turnberry in showery conditions on his second round of golf this weekend

PA Media Trump has described his Scottish trip as a private visit

Von der Leyen met with First Minister John Swinney on Saturday and thanked him for a “warm welcome in Scotland” in a post on Instagram. Trump is expected to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday and Swinney on Tuesday, and is due to open a second 18-hole course at his estate in Aberdeenshire. On Sunday he made his way around the Turnberry course, followed by around two dozen buggies, many of which carried bodyguards and other staff. Three pro-Trump demonstrators watched from the beach, carrying signs with derogatory messages about the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. As Trump passed by, they shouted “we love you Trump,” while the BBC’s Scotland editor James Cook asked the president if he had finalised a trade deal with the European Union. The resort is ringed by dozens of police officers and a steel fence.

EPA A small group of pro-Trump, anti-Starmer protesters gathered in the grounds of Turnberry, waving a US flag

Minutes after arriving in Scotland on Friday, Trump talked about the potential for a trade deal between the EU and United States, telling reporters there was a 50-50 chance of reaching an agreement. Brussels, he claimed, wanted to “make a deal very badly”. Senior EU officials are also sounding positive about the prospect of establishing at least the framework of a pact. If the talks collapse though the result could be a trade war — with Trump threatening 30% tariffs on EU goods — and the EU promising to respond in kind.

European Commission’s Audiovisual Service First Minister John Swinney met with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday

The president arrived in Scotland on Friday evening, with Air Force One touching down at Glasgow Prestwick Airport before his entourage travelled to nearby Turnberry. He told the press “it’s great to be in Scotland” and praised Starmer and Swinney ahead of meeting them. A major security operation was ramped up at Turnberry before Trump played 18 holes on Saturday. He waved to photographers and the assembled media as his day passed without incident.

Several roads remain closed in the area while police and military personnel have been carrying out checks around the resort. A security checkpoint has been put in place outside the hotel and a large fence has been erected around the course. Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters gathered in Aberdeen and Edinburgh to demonstrate their frustrations towards the president’s politics – including his views on climate change and his position on the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Trump is expected to meet Starmer on Monday before officially opening his new golf course at Menie in Aberdeenshire.

As President Trump prepared for Sunday talks in Scotland with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the EU has to open its markets for US exports if it wants to convince Trump to reduce the 30% tariff he’s threatened to put in place August 1.

“The question is, do they offer President Trump a good enough deal that is worth it for him to step off of the 30% tariffs that he set,” Lutnick told “Fox News Sunday,” adding that Trump was looking to increase access for U.S. firms.

On Friday, Trump put the odds of a trade deal with the European Union at “50-50,” even as negotiators from both sides have expressed optimism about reaching a deal before the Aug. 1 deadline.

“I would say that we have a 50-50 chance, maybe less than that, but a 50-50 chance of making a deal with the EU,” Trump told reporters before departing on a trip to his golf course in Scotland. European Commission President is set to meet Trump in Scotland this weekend in a bid to secure a deal.

Trump also said that letters dictating tariff rates for over 200 countries would go out soon while his administration works to clinch deals with larger trade partners, including the EU, India, and Canada. Trump said the US hasn’t had a “lot of luck” with Canada and suggested he may impose threatened 35% levies on goods not covered by the US-Canada-Mexico trade agreement.

President Trump last week touted a $550 billion investment in the US that Japan made as part of trade negotiations “to lower their tariffs a little bit,” as he described it. On Saturday, Japanese trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa suggested the money could be used to help finance a Taiwanese chipmaker building plants in the US, Reuters reported.

Akazawa did not name a specific Taiwanese company, but in March, Taiwan’s TSMC announced a $100 billion investment in the US, on top of plans to build three plants in Arizona, one of which is already operating.

“For example, if a Taiwanese chipmaker builds a plant in the U.S. and uses Japanese components or tailors its products to meet Japanese needs, that’s fine too,” he said.

Trump announced the deal on Tuesday, which includes a 15% tariff on imported goods along with the $550 billion Japanese investment. However, the sides do not seem aligned on profit sharing, with Japan seeking a split based on contributions, while the US says it would keep 90%.

In any case, the Japan trade deal may have set a precedent for Trump’s new baseline tariff rate. As the US finalized the deal with Japan and advanced talks with the EU, Trump said tariffs would range from 15% to 50%, with tougher partners facing higher rates.

Intensive negotiations were continuing on Saturday between the EU and the US before a crunch meeting in Scotland between Donald Trump and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to avert a costly trade war.

Trump spent the night at his family-owned Turnberry golf resort on a private visit, but took time to criticise European leaders over wind turbines and immigration, claiming there won’t be a Europe unless they “get their act together”.

“I say two things to Europe. Stop the windmills. You’re ruining your countries. I really mean it, it’s so sad. You fly over and you see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds,” he said. “On immigration, you better get your act together,” he said. “You’re not going to have Europe any more.”

On Saturday morning, he abandoned a scheduled meeting with the press, who travelled with him on Air Force One, for a round of golf at his seaside course with music blaring from the buggy he drove.

Sky News, stationed next to the course, reported the songs included Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl, Elaine Paige’s Memory and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge over Troubled Water.

Billed as a four-day family visit to Scotland, Trump is meeting European leaders and the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, raising hopes of new and refined trade deals with the EU and the UK.

On the prospects of an EU trade deal, the US president has said there were “20 sticking points”. When asked what they were, he said: “Well, I don’t want to tell you what the sticking points are.”

He described von der Leyen as a “highly respected woman” and said the meeting on Sunday with the EU chief would be “good”, rating the chances of a deal as “a good 50-50”.

It is understood von der Leyen and her aides will fly in on Saturday, with the European trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, arriving on Sunday morning.

It is expected the deal will centre on an outline agreement in principle over 15% tariff rates for exports including cars, but with a 50% tariff continuing on steel. There may also be a breakthrough deal on pharmaceuticals, setting a rate of 15% for exports.

Although this would breach a longstanding World Trade Organization agreement that medicines are rated at a zero tariff, it would be a far cry from the 200% tariff Trump threatened to impose on pharmaceuticals earlier this month.

This would have triggered a highly damaging trade war not just with Ireland, where many US multinationals are based, but Germany, Denmark, Belgium, France and Spain.

Von der Leyen’s spokesperson, Paula Pinho, said: “Intensive negotiations at technical and political [level] have been ongoing between the EU and US. Leaders will now take stock and consider the scope for a balanced outcome that provides stability and predictability for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.”

It is believed the meeting will be held in Turnberry late afternoon and will be followed by a series of meetings with Starmer on Monday, with hopes he will widen the bare bones trade deal he struck in May.

Trump’s arrival in Scotland has required the biggest security operation since Elizabeth II died in 2022. More than 5,000 police and security personnel are involved in the four-day visit with no risks taken after the assassination attempt on the president a year ago.

High perimeter fences have been erected around the coastal golf course with naval vessels patrolling the shore while security drones overhead and dozens of security detail staked out the resort early on Saturday.

The heavy security presence may be a foretaste of events to come later in August when the US vice-president, JD Vance, and his family arrive for a holiday in the Cotswolds, reportedly in the village of Charlbury.

Locals who resisted the expansion of Trump’s golf course in the past have asked who would be footing the bill for the security arrangements.

That’s all for now

That’s all for now from our live coverage of Donald Trump.

The US leader has arrived in Scotland for his visit to the country.

A trip of golf, business and diplomacy, Trump is mixing the personal and the politics during his time in the UK.

He’s due to meet with First Minister John Swinney, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.

Alongside that, he will be playing lots of golf at his properties in Scotland, as well as opening a brand-new course named in honour of his mother, who was born on the Scottish island of Lewis.

Trump’s visit to Scotland has triggered a massive policing operation to keep the US president safe, with the taxpayer footing the bill.

Upon arriving, Trump spoke to reporters after disembarking Air Force One.

Much of what he said wasn’t new, but he did have warm words for Starmer ahead of their meeting.

“I like your prime minister,” Trump told reporters when asked about the issue of immigration in the US and UK.

He lauded Starmer for getting the trade deal done – surely good news for Number 10.

Trump had less kind words for President Emmanuel Macron after France said it would be recognising the Palestinian state.

The US leader, despite flying thousands of miles, couldn’t escape one story that has dogged him in recent weeks.

When asked about the Epstein files, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump said it was not the time to talk about pardoning her.

He’s spoken about the issue a number of times over the last few days.

Back in the US, Maxwell herself finished meeting with Trump’s deputy attorney general.

Trump says ‘great to be in Scotland’, as he lands for four-day trip

2 days ago Share Save Catherine Lyst and Paul O’Hare BBC Scotland News Share Save

Getty Images President Trump waved at the crowds at Prestwick Airport

US president Donald Trump said “it’s great to be in Scotland” as he landed for a four-day private visit. After Air Force One touched down at Prestwick Airport, just before 20:30, the US president was met by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Warren Stephens, US Ambassador to the UK. Trump spoke to journalists before the presidential motorcade left for his Turnberry resort, in South Ayrshire, where he is expected to play golf on Saturday. Speaking about Sir Keir Starmer, who he is due to meet on Monday, he said: “I like your prime minister. He’s slightly more liberal than I am – as you probably heard – but he’s a good man. He got a trade deal done.”

Trump added: “You know, they’ve been working on this deal for 12 years, he got it done – that’s a good deal, it’s a good deal for the UK.” The president earlier also described Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney as “a good man” and said he was looking forward to meeting him. Swinney has pledged to “essentially speak out for Scotland”.

The moment Air Force One lands at Glasgow Prestwick Airport

The motorcade – which contained more than two dozen vehicles – entered Trump’s Turnberry golf resort at about 21:30, flanked by Police Scotland vehicles and ambulance crews. As he arrived at the luxury hotel, the president’s vehicle – known as The Beast – passed a small group of protesters. Trump will stay at Turnberry over the weekend before heading to his second property in Aberdeenshire, where he will open a new 18-hole course at Menie. He told reporters a late James Bond star played a crucial role in the project. Trump said: “Sean Connery helped get me the permits – if it weren’t for Sean Connery we wouldn’t have those great courses.”

Trump is expected to meet Starmer and Swinney on Monday while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on X that she will meet the president on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations. Trump will travel back to the US on Tuesday and is due to return to the UK for an official state visit in September. A number of protests are expected to be held to coincide with the visit, including demonstrations in Edinburgh and Aberdeen on Saturday. A major security operation has been under way in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire this week, ahead of the president’s trip. Dozens of officers have also been drafted in to support Police Scotland, under mutual aid arrangements, from other UK forces. Road closures and diversions have been put in place in Turnberry, while a security checkpoint outside the resort and a large fence has been erected around the course. A number of police vans have also been seen at the Menie site.

Getty Images Plane spotters and Trump supporters gathered at Prestwick Airport to watch Air Force One coming into land

PA Media The motorcade makes its way along the A77 to Trump’s Turnberry resort

Speaking to journalists at Prestwick, Trump said European countries need to “get your act together” on migration, and “stop the windmills”, referring to wind farms. He said: “I say two things to Europe: Stop the windmills. You’re ruining your countries. I really mean it, it’s so sad. “You fly over and you see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds, and if they’re stuck in the ocean, ruining your oceans. “Stop the windmills, and also, I mean, there’s a couple of things I could say, but on immigration, you’d better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore.” In 2019, his company Trump International lost a long-running court battle to stop a major wind power development being built in the North Sea off Aberdeen. Trump argued that the project, which included 11 wind turbines, would spoil the view from his golf course at Menie.

Trump also claimed that illegal migration was an “invasion” which was “killing Europe”. He said: “Last month, we (the United States) had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with (former US president Joe) Biden. “Biden was a total stiff, and what he allowed to happen…. but you’re allowing it to happen to your countries, and you’ve got to stop this horrible invasion that’s happening to Europe; many countries in Europe. “Some people, some leaders, have not let it happen, and they’re not getting the proper credit they should. “I could name them to you right now, but I’m not going to embarrass the other ones. “But stop: this immigration is killing Europe.”

Getty Images Trump teeing off during a round of golf at his Turnberry course in May 2023

Quizzed on the latest developments with the Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell’s interview with the Department of Justice, Trump said he had “really nothing to say about it”. “A lot of people are asking me about pardons obviously – this is no time to be talking about pardons.” He said the media was “making a very big thing out of something that’s not a big thing”. Earlier, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told reporters the US president’s visit to Scotland was in the “national interest”. Speaking during a visit to the Rolls-Royce factory, near Glasgow Airport, she said: “The work that our Prime Minister Keir Starmer has done in building that relationship with President Trump has meant that we were the first country in the world to secure a trade deal.” Reeves added that it had a “tangible benefit” for people in Scotland, from the Scotch whisky industry to the defence sector.” Swinney said his meeting with Trump would present an opportunity to “essentially speak out for Scotland” on issues such as trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland. The first minister said he would also raise “significant international issues” including “the awfulness of the situation in Gaza”. And he urged those set to protest against the president’s visit to do so “peacefully and to do so within the law”.

PA Media A number of roads have been closed in preparation for Trump’s visit

PA Media Security has been stepped up at the two Trump resorts

Visits to Scotland by sitting US presidents are rare. Queen Elizabeth hosted Dwight D Eisenhower at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire in 1957. George W Bush travelled to Gleneagles in Perthshire for a G8 summit in 2005 and Joe Biden attended a climate conference in Glasgow in 2021. The only other serving president to visit this century is Trump himself in 2018 when he was met by protesters including one flying a paraglider low over Turnberry, breaching the air exclusion zone around the resort. He returned in 2023, two-and-a-half years after he was defeated by Biden.

PA Media Police have been drafted in from a number of forces and are using a variety of vehicles