Trump heads to Scotland for golf amid Epstein file fallout

Trump is scheduled to visit his golf resort in Turnberry on the east coast of Scotland. He will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer there on Monday before heading to his other golf estate, 300km away, near Aberdeen on the west coast.

New golf course

During his visit, Trump will open a second 18-hole course at the Aberdeen resort, named after his mother, Mary Ann McLeod, who was born and raised on one of the Scottish islands before emigrating to the US.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week that the trip was a working visit that will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer to finalise the historic trade deal between the US and the UK.

Political crisis and public reaction

The trip abroad comes amid the biggest domestic political crisis of Trump's second term. Both allies and opponents have criticized his administration for its handling of the Epstein investigation and the circumstances surrounding his 2019 death in prison.

The issue has caused a rift between Trump and his loyal supporters in the Make America Great Again movement. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that a majority of Americans, including Republicans, believe the government is covering up details of the case.

The White House, irritated by the constant attention on the Epstein case, hopes the scandal will subside while Trump is abroad, one of the sources familiar with the matter said.

Deepening ties with United Kingdom

Although the trip was initially billed as private, Trump and Starmer are using it to strengthen their already warm relationship. Ending Russia’s war in Ukraine is among the key agenda items, according to sources in the US and the UK.

Since his election last year, Starmer has made good relations with Trump a priority. He has stressed the importance of the defence and security alliance between the US and the UK and has avoided open criticism of Trump’s tariff policies.

This approach allowed the UK to conclude its first tariff reduction deal with the US in May. It confirmed quotas and tariff rates on British cars, abolished duties on aerospace products, but left in tariffs on steel. The tariff issue is likely to be raised, but sources said it was unclear whether a breakthrough could be achieved.

Expected meetings and protests in Scotland

Trump is also expected to meet with Scottish leader John Swinney, who has previously publicly endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. However, neither side has yet released details of the meeting.

Trump has repeatedly called Scotland a very special place and made a similar trip there in 2016 during his first presidential campaign. However, his visit is unlikely to be greeted with warmth.

According to a March Ipsos poll, about 70% of Scots have a negative view of Trump, and only 18% have a positive one. Police Scotland is preparing for protests on Saturday in both Aberdeen and the capital, Edinburgh.

Upcoming visit to King Charles

From September 17 to 19, Trump will visit the UK again, this time for a state visit, at the invitation of King Charles. He will be the first world leader in modern history to make two state visits to the United Kingdom.

Trump was first received by Queen Elizabeth in June 2019 during a three-day visit to Buckingham Palace.

High-profile scandal

According to The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian, the name of US President Donald Trump appears in the Justice Department's files relating to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier, the WSJ revealed a drawing of a naked woman that Trump sent to Epstein in 2003. Trump denies this and intends to sue, demanding compensation of $10 billion.