When Donald Trump rewind the US presidency in last year’s election, news about Dumfries and Galloway from Scotland came to the news with this headline.
Its playful approach – signs that locals thought Trump was entertainment, owning a luxury golf course in Scotland – seems sour now.
The independent Scottish newspaper arrived for a four-day visit this week, with the next headline greeted the “US felony criminals to arrive in Scotland.”
So why is Trump visiting Scotland and what is his travel agenda?
How was Trump received in Scotland?
Trump’s link to Scotland returns to his mother.
His father, Fred, is the son of a German immigrant, and Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was a Scottish immigrant to the United States, born in the village of Ton on Lewis Island.
Trump has generally made much of this connection and his love for Scotland, but has made a grand vow about what his golf course will do for sightseeing there.
On Friday he arrived at Turnberry, a small village of Ayrshire, where he headed for golf and met with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer on Monday for a talk about trade. Trump Turnberry has two golf championship courses: Ailsa (four-time host of the open championship) and Blues King Robert.
A small place of around 200 people, Turnberry might also seem like a good place to escape the wider troubles. Trump cannot shake up speculation from many of his Magazine’s fanbase about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal allegedly sent Epstein a birthday note featuring a naked woman and a text.
He reported that the book given to Epstein in 2003 contained letters from both Trump and Bill Clinton.
On Friday, a Scottish reporter cried out to Trump: “You’re going to get Scotland to escape legal issues?” he didn’t reply.
Some people also faced protesting their visit to Scotland on Friday. One Turnberry protester held the sign that read, “Trump hated Trump before Scotland became fashionable.” Other signs of protest were less polite.
Scottish Nationalist Parliament Stephen Flynn is particularly burping, but said he won’t see Trump because he’s busy “washing his hair.”
Glasgow-based author and journalist Dominique Hinde said: “Scottish doesn’t have to head to the White House like the Westminster Bubble would do, and they can afford to be rude in a way that Kiel’s starmet cannot.
Due to this fuss and assassination attempt during last year’s election campaign, Turnberry became the temporary home of 5,000 police officers, army trucks and road checkpoints on Friday. This is the largest and most expensive security operation since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Trump is also planning to visit his golf course in Barmedi near Aberdeen, and will visit the new course, which will open in August during the four-day trip that will end on July 29th.
Why are Scots angry at Trump?
The conflict between Trump and the locals began 14 years ago over plans to build a wind turbine visible from the Aberdeenshire golf course. He stopped them and called them “monsters” that only hurt tourists. He couldn’t stop the wind farm, but he’s opposed to both wind and the sun.
During his previous talk, Trump asked to throw away the wind in order of priorities and strengthen oil production. He claims that offshore wind turbines are “driving whales into insanity.” However, about half of Scotland’s electricity comes from the wind.
Aberdeenshire’s Trump golf course has also proven to be controversial. The conservation group says the course destroyed nearby sand dunes. This course is also expected to struggle to hire many people.
Trump Scottish protest groups opposed him on Friday. “The people of Scotland don’t want to roll out Donald Trump’s welcome mat, accelerating the spread of climate disruptions around the world.”
What will Trump discuss with the British Prime Minister?
Discussions with Keir Starmer will focus on improving the US-UK trade agreement in June, setting a 10% tariff on UK goods going to the US.
It also expanded access to US goods in the UK market, setting tariffs on the first 100,000 British vehicles exported to the US each year, compared to 25% in other countries.
In 2024, the UK shipped around 106,000 cars to the US worth £9 billion ($12.1 billion) including luxury brands such as Jaguar, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin.
The UK currently wants to lower the UK’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum, but that is already comparing it to the remaining 50% of the world’s obligations on the same goods.
Philip Shaw, an economist at Investec in London, said: “The UK is getting a good result in Trump raising tariffs on most UK exports by just 10%, and the UK faces 25% tax rather than the majority of other countries, not the majority of other countries.
Trump claims that the UK is getting better deals than other large economies, saying in a group at the Seven (G7) summit in June: “The UK is very well protected. Do you know why?
On Friday, Prime Minister Rachel Reeves said: “It is UK’s national interest to have strong relationships with the US administration, and as a result of both long-term special relationships and, more importantly, the work that Kiel’s Preferred did in building relationships with President Trump meant we were the first country in the world.”
However, Kathleen Brooks, research director for UK investment group XTB, said: “The UK was ‘blessed’ by the early trade agreement, but it has not yet helped Britain’s economic hardships.
“The fact that Trump has come to Scotland is interesting as the EU continues to wait for confirmation of tariff rates with the US. As Trump has a golf course in Ireland, his choice to visit Scotland could be considered a counterargument to the EU.
Some Trump’s acolites have been critical of the UK in general, saying there is no freedom of speech and there is a “no-go” zone in London. Priorities are unlikely to lift such issues while he negotiates in trade.
What else might happen?
Trump is also scheduled to meet Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, who made positive noises. “Scottish shares strong friendship with the United States centuries ago. Of course, the partnership remains immovable through economic, cultural and ancestral connections, including the president himself.”
He also pledged to raise issues beyond trade, such as wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
Trump will soon return to the UK after this visit. A state visit with Mrs. Melania is scheduled for September 17th, with the president expected to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle.
