Donald Trump plays golf in Scotland before EU trade talks

Donald Trump is back out on the golf course on the second full day of his visit to Scotland before he meets the EU Commission president for trade talks. Despite showery conditions, the US president is playing another round 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'.

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, as well as opening a second 18-hole course at his estate in Aberdeenshire. Trump is currently making his way around the golf course, followed by around two dozen buggies, many of which are carrying bodyguards and other staff. Three pro-Trump, anti-Starmer demonstrators are watching from the beach, carrying signs with derogatory messages about the UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer. The resort is ringed by dozens of police officers and a steel fence.

Trump is due to meet Von der Leyen later to discuss a possible trade deal between the United States and the European Union. Minutes after arriving in Scotland on Friday, Trump talked about the potential for a deal, 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.

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. Several hundred demonstrators gathered in both Aberdeen and Edinburgh on Saturday to protest against the visit. Trump is expected to meet Starmer on Monday before officially opening his new golf course at Menie in Aberdeenshire.