Trump Visits Scotland to Refine U.K. Trade Deal, Open New Golf Course

President Donald Trump is visiting Scotland for a four-day trip that combines personal leisure at his golf resorts in Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, and Turnberry with diplomatic engagements, including meetings with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The visit aims to refine the recently enacted U.S.-U.K. trade deal, addressing unresolved issues such as the 25% U.S. tariff on U.K. steel and aluminum and the digital services tax, which remain points of contention. Despite being framed as private, the trip carries significant geopolitical and economic implications, especially for defense, energy, and aerospace sectors, as the U.K. seeks to bolster its defense spending and energy independence in alignment with U.S. strategic interests. Trump’s history of opposing Scottish wind farms, notably his legal battles against offshore turbines near his Aberdeenshire resort, remains a backdrop to his presence in Scotland. The visit is controversial domestically and in Scotland, with protests anticipated and some political figures recalling past opposition to Trump’s state visits. Overall, the trip underscores the complex interplay of personal business interests, diplomatic relations, and broader economic opportunities during a period of shifting global alliances.