A High-Stakes Scotland Visit Blends Diplomacy, Golf Business, and Epstein Tensions in Trump’s Itinerary

25 July 2025

A general view of the clubhouse on the Trump Turnberry golf course ahead of the expected arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump later this week in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain, July 24, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on July 25 for a visit that combines personal business interests with subtle diplomacy amid the intensifying controversy surrounding allegations related to Jeffrey Epstein. The itinerary includes stops at his Turnberry golf resort on Scotland’s east coast, followed by a visit to his expansive Menie estate near Aberdeen on the west coast where he is scheduled to inaugurate a second eighteen‑hole course named in tribute to his mother Mary Anne MacLeod honoring her Scottish roots and his ongoing ties to the region.

White House officials characterized the trip as a “working visit” that includes a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, focused on refining a recently agreed U.S.–U.K. trade framework, alongside discussions on global security issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The discussions follow a May trade deal that lowered automobile tariffs while preserving steel sanctions.

The visit comes amid a severe political backlash at home over Trump’s administration’s handling of Epstein-related documents. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows political skepticism even among Trump's traditional base, with many believing that details surrounding Epstein’s prison death in 2019 have been suppressed. U.S. officials hope the overseas schedule shifts focus away from domestic scrutiny.

Protests are expected in Scotland with Stop Trump Coalition organizers planning demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Public sentiment remains predominantly unfavorable, with Ipsos polling indicating roughly 70 percent of Scots hold negative views of Trump.

On the legal front, Trump addressed public questions about clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, stating he had not considered a pardon and pointed to ongoing DOJ investigations. He additionally offered to release a list of Epstein associates, while declines to discuss any potential pardons regarding Maxwell, who recently spoke with Deputy Attorney General Todd.

Trump’s legal actions have also impacted press freedoms on the trip. One Reuters reporter from the Wall Street Journal was excluded from the official media pool after the outlet published allegations about a birthday greeting Trump allegedly contributed to Epstein in 2003. The exclusion has been condemned by the White House Correspondents’ Association and underscores deepening tensions between the Trump administration and media institutions.

Despite controversy, Trump and Starmer appear eager to reinforce defense and trade ties, with Starmer signaling a willingness to avoid criticizing Trump’s tariff policies while emphasizing Euro‑Atlantic security. Another meeting is scheduled with Scottish First Minister John Swinney a notable gesture given Swinney’s public support of the Democratic Party in the 2024 U.S. presidential race.

The complex week ahead includes two distinct phases: Trump’s domestic political firestorms remain centre stage while his overseas engagements are meant to refocus global attention on unfinished business both economic and symbolic. His return visit to the U.K. in September for a formal state visit hosted by King Charles III will make history as a rare second state visit for a recent U.S. president