Trump to meet Starmer in low-key Scotland trip

Telegraph

a day ago

President Donald Trump will meet Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland in what UK officials are describing as a low-key visit.
The White House played down the significance of the meeting, saying the two leaders are unlikely to announce any major policy breakthroughs.
The bilateral is instead being framed by officials as a relationship building opportunity ahead of Mr Trump's official state visit in September.
Mr Trump will depart the White House on Friday for the four-day visit. He will spend the weekend at his Turnberry golf club before meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday.
He will then fly to Aberdeenshire to open a new links course beside the North Sea, according to Steven Cheung, the White House communications director.
Mr Trump will also meet with British media executives while in Scotland.
Sir Keir and Mr Trump have developed a warm rapport and Mr Trump's meeting with Sir Keir is 'a recognition of the relationship that the US has with the UK,' Mr Cheung told The Telegraph.
'And, you know, I think he (Trump) genuinely likes him as a person. That's why they get along.'
A British official familiar with plans in Scotland, said the trip was being treated more like a family visit than the arrival of a foreign head of state.
The full pomp and circumstance will follow for the state visit in September, according to a British source. The trip will follow a simple structure without a big reception party on the airport apron, for example.
Mr Cheung said the president was not arriving with any particular asks from the Prime Minister, other than having the chance to catch up and build on their earlier meetings.
'You know right now there really isn't anything specific issue-wise on the agenda,' he told The Telegraph. 'I'm sure they'll talk about foreign policy. I'm sure they'll talk about coming to peace agreements. I'm sure they'll talk about trade.'
Mr Trump will travel with a full kit of secure communications equipment allowing him to stay in touch with officials at home and leaders around the world, Mr Cheung said.
'It's a working trip because there's a lot of business that's being done, a lot of interviews being done, meetings with Starmer,' he said. 'So it's a working trip,' he added.
The pre-planned visit could not come at a better time for the president who is under intense political and media scrutiny in Washington over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The president's supporters have criticised Mr Trump's failure to make good on a campaign promise to release all of the files the government holds on the late paedophile financier.
Mr Trump is likely to be eager to play a few rounds on his courses during the visit but is accustomed to playing golf in the sunnier climes of Florida and Virginia, near the White House. Scotland's weather forecast promises showers and heavy downpours for Turnberry at the weekend.
Aberdeenshire however is still set to see sunshine for its grand opening.
Mr Trump's constructive relationship with Sir Keir was forged despite the pair coming from opposite ends of the political spectrum.
The UK secured the first deal with Washington to roll back steep trade tariffs and Mr Trump has been invited for a state visit.
Sir Keir first met the then Republican candidate at Trump Tower for dinner in September last year and the two hit it off quickly.
British officials are keen to point out that Sir Keir was the only leader to meet Mr Trump in his private quarters rather than on the terrace at Mar-a-Lago, his club in Florida, which is open to members.
Sir Keir visited the president at the White House in February, when he presented Mr Trump with a state visit invitation from the King, much to Mr Trump's obvious delight.
The grand opening of his second course at his Aberdeenshire resort will be held on Tuesday.
The MacLeod Course is named in honour of Mr Trump's Scottish mother Mary.
In a promotional video last year, Mr Trump said he believed adding a second 18 holes beside an existing course improved the chances of hosting tournaments.
'Having a second course of equal quality is a big advantage for [hosting] tournaments because they can use both of the courses,' he said.
'We'll have many, many championships here between both courses. I think it'll be a great success.'