U.S. President Donald Trump is heading to Scotland on Friday for a visit blending leisure and diplomacy, while questions about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continue to
shadow his administration.
Trump will spend time at his Turnberry golf resort on Scotland’s west coast before meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. He also plans to travel to his Aberdeen golf property on the east coast to inaugurate a new 18-hole course named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, a native of the nearby Isle of Lewis.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the visit is a “working trip” that includes a bilateral meeting with Starmer to advance the U.S.-U.K. trade relationship.
The trip comes as Trump faces significant political pressure at home over his administration’s handling of documents related to Epstein’s criminal case and his 2019 death in custody. A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates a majority of Americans, including many Republicans, believe key details are being withheld, sparking rare dissent within Trump’s political base.
White House aides hope the president's international travel may reduce public attention on the controversy, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Focus on U.S.-U.K. ties
Despite initial framing as a private visit, the trip offers Trump and Starmer an opportunity to strengthen ties. Topics on the agenda reportedly include the conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Starmer has recently condemned the conditions in Gaza, urging Israel to allow aid into the region. Over 100 people have reportedly died from starvation, prompting coordinated calls with leaders from France and Germany.
Since his election, Starmer has prioritized a strong relationship with the U.S., and in May, secured a partial tariff-reduction agreement. He is expected to raise the issue of steel tariffs during the meeting, though officials say any resolution is unlikely during this visit.
Trump may also meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney, though details remain unconfirmed. Swinney has previously expressed support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. election.
Despite Trump’s repeated praise for Scotland—where he campaigned in 2016—public sentiment remains largely unfavorable. A March Ipsos poll found only 18% of Scots view him positively, while 70% hold a negative opinion. Protests are expected in Edinburgh and Aberdeen over the weekend.
Trump is also scheduled to return to the U.K. for a state visit hosted by King Charles in September, marking his second such visit after his 2019 reception by Queen Elizabeth II. Photo by Mary and Angus Hogg, Wikimedia commons.