President Trump speaks to reporters on the White Home on July 25, 2025, earlier than leaving for Scotland.
Jim Watson/AFP
conceal caption
toggle caption
Jim Watson/AFP
President Trump heads to Scotland on Friday for a four-day journey anticipated to incorporate a mixture of private time and diplomacy.
Trump plans to satisfy with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to “refine” a beforehand introduced commerce cope with the UK He’s additionally anticipated to satisfy with Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney.
In June, the White Home introduced that it had finalized a commerce settlement with the UK that lowered U.S. tariffs on British automobiles to 10%, however there are some particulars about metal tariffs nonetheless up within the air.
Trump informed reporters he did not assume there was numerous room to maneuver on metal tariff points, however he mentioned that he would meet Starmer twice on the journey, at Turnberry and Aberdeen.
Trump will spend a lot of his time through the journey at his golf programs. He owns two in Scotland and is opening a 3rd.
President Trump performs a spherical of golf at his course in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 15, 2018.
Leon Neal/Getty Photographs Europe
conceal caption
toggle caption
Leon Neal/Getty Photographs Europe
Protests are anticipated
When Trump visited Scotland in 2018 throughout his first time period as president, there have been intensive protests. This time, demonstrations are deliberate for Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Earlier this week, a protest signal associated to intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein appeared at Trump’s golf course in Aberdeen.
Trump, who was as soon as pals with Epstein, is going through a backlash from supporters who need extra info launched concerning the disgraced financier’s crimes and his 2019 loss of life by suicide in jail.
Trump has been attempting to distance himself from the Epstein controversy that has dominated Washington. However he is been beneath growing stress — significantly from inside his MAGA universe — to launch extra info.
On Thursday, Deputy Lawyer Normal Todd Blanche met with Epstein’s affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell who’s serving time for intercourse trafficking, and talks have been slated to proceed on Friday. Her lawyer informed reporters she answered all of Blanche’s questions, although there aren’t any particulars on what was coated.
Earlier this week, the Wall Road Journal reported that Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi informed Trump his title was within the Epstein information in Could. NPR has not independently confirmed that reporting. The White Home has dismissed this story, saying it is lengthy been identified that Trump and Epstein had been pals however had a falling out years in the past.
When President Trump visited Scotland throughout his first time period, there have been protests, together with this march in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 14, 2018.
Neil Hanna/AFP
conceal caption
toggle caption
Neil Hanna/AFP
The go to to Scotland could also be a brand new alternative to try to distance himself from the controversy, but it surely’s not just like the British tabloids are identified for staying out of tales like this.
Republican pollster Jon McHenry says a lot of the journey will rely upon how Trump subsequent responds to the controversy.
“The UK media is not going to say, ‘Oh, he is on trip, I’ll depart him alone,’ mentioned McHenry of North Star Opinion Analysis. “It may be throughout. They’ll odor blood within the water. So the way you reply to that first query to an antagonistic media most likely units the tone for the entire journey.”
McHenry says this isn’t a prime concern for many Individuals, however they do care about whether or not the White Home is holding again info — or doubtlessly protecting it up.
