Donald Trump in Scotland LIVE as US President to spend first day at Ayrshire golf course
The US President drew crowds to Prestwick Airport on Friday evening as Air Force One touched down ahead of a four-day visit that will also take him to the club his family owns in Aberdeenshire.
With a meeting scheduled with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer understood to be making the trip north on Monday, Mr Trump - a well-known golf enthusiast - appears to be free to play the vaunted Turnberry course on Saturday.
Elsewhere, however, Scots will be protesting against the visit.
The Stop Trump Coalition has announced demonstrations in Edinburgh - near the American consulate in the Scottish capital - and another in Aberdeen in the days before his visit there.
Follow our live blog to keep updated with any developments throughout the day.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
23 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Scots beauty spot compared to 'Skid Row' as rowdy tourists drink and party
The site has been branded 'Skid Row' by furious locals as it has been invaded by tourists who camp beside the water and party through the night A picturesque Scottish site, Loch of Clunie in Perthshire, has been dubbed "Skid Row" as it's been overrun by unruly tourists indulging in alcohol-fuelled parties and criminal activities. The once tranquil spot has suffered from over-tourism in recent years, with party-goers flocking to camp by the water. Local residents have voiced their concerns about antisocial behaviour, including violence and littering. Some visitors have even brought along generators, gazebos and a flatbed truck equipped with its own fresh water supply for camping and outdoor enjoyment. However, the constant blaring of loud music throughout the night and drunken misbehaviour has resulted in locals being subjected to physical and verbal abuse, reports the Scottish Daily Express. Perth and Kinross Council have been accused of not doing enough to discourage troublemakers from wreaking havoc in the scenic area. Reports of nudity and drug use have also surfaced, with campers neglecting to clean up their rubbish after overnight stays. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Local resident Emma Crichton told the BBC: "Earlier this month there was a flatbed truck with a fresh water supply on it for three generations of campers who were there for 10 days with a generator with loud music. "I have people wandering into my garden asking if they can park there, people coming in and asking if they can use my loo. We have people having raves, it's like a music festival. I'm not a shrinking violet. I like a drink and I like loud music, but it's intolerable and I don't feel safe." Rangers have increased patrols in the area, collecting discarded items such as soiled nappies and a hypodermic needle. The locale typically teems with visitors between October or whenever the sun makes an appearance. Ms Crichton criticised the council and police response, stating: "Some of the rangers have been doing the job since before I got there so they know the area well and they're very invested in it. Every time I make a complaint, I'm told there's no law being broken. I cannot accept that." Negative feedback has also appeared on the Loch Clunie Facebook page, including a recent post from a man who visited the loch with his 10 year old daughter. He penned: "It was like Skid Row. Drunks everywhere - one or two being quite aggressive. Rubbish everywhere. Maybe half a dozen cars abandoned with parking tickets on them. Stayed for five minutes and left." Strathtay Councillor Ian James described the situation as an "absolute nightmare" for local residents. He commented that they were "putting up with loud music and drunken behaviour. Although it's a beautiful area, it's just not a nice place to be when it's like that." He alleged that a friend of his had been stabbed after requesting people not to camp in his garden. He added: "If this was Perth city centre, we'd have the police turning up and everybody would be trying their best to stop it, but this is in the countryside so it's unseen by most." A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council has stated that the local authority is keen for both visitors and residents to enjoy areas such as Loch of Clunie in a "safe, responsible and courteous manner". The spokesperson further added: "Parking attendants patrol the clearways, issuing guidance and penalty notices as appropriate. "We fully recognise the community's ongoing concerns about repeated incidents of irresponsible camping near residential properties. Given the understandable feelings of vulnerability and anxiety this has caused, we have advised residents not to engage directly with visitors and to report any threatening behaviour to Police Scotland." A representative from Police Scotland said: "We understand the impact anti-social behaviour and disorder has on the local community, and we would like to thank locals who continue to bring these incidents to our attention. Officers continue to work with local partners to address any concerns in the area, and where criminality is established, those responsible will be dealt with appropriately."
Scottish Sun
23 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Keir Starmer & John Swinney face difficult ‘balancing act' after Donald Trump admits he's in a grumpy mood
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIR Keir Starmer and John Swinney face a difficult 'balancing act' in talks with Donald Trump - after the US President admitted he was in a grumpy mood. The Prime Minister will fly to Scotland on Monday morning to meet Mr Trump at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire for a 'wide-ranging' summit on issues including trade and the Israel-Hamas war. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Donald Trump is 'not in a good mood' before summit 3 The Prime Minister and First Minister are set to meet with the US President 3 He made the admission after he striking an EU trade deal Later, the PM and the First Minister will attend a banquet-style dinner hosted by the US leader in the north-east, ahead of him opening a new 18-hole golf course in honour of his late Scottish mother, Mary Anne Macleod, at Menie, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday. But despite striking an EU trade deal, the unpredictable US President admitted he was 'not in a good mood' after a hectic weekend at Turnberry, where he juggled two rounds of golf with family time, presidential business, and a flurry of social media blasts taking aim at rivals back home. A senior SNP insider admitted that today's multiple summits - including an expected one-to-one between Mr Trump and Mr Swinney in the north-east - amounted to 'a difficult balancing act for everyone', with both the PM and FM expected to try to pressure Mr Trump on thorny issues including trade tariffs and reviving stalled Gaza peace talks. Speaking in the first of two press conferences with White House reporters, journalists suggested he seemed in a good mood. But Mr Trump replied: 'I'm actually not in a good mood' - prompting a nervous smile and a raised eyebrow from Ms von der Leyen. The President insisted it was nothing to do with imminent talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, and asked why he was in a bad mood and if it was to do with his latest golf round, Mr Trump said: 'No, the golf was beautiful. Golf can never be bad.' But minutes later, a tetchy-sounding President launched into another of his trademark attacks on windfarms, which he famously battled against - in vain - off the Aberdeenshire coast. In a two-and-half minute blast, he claimed he would 'not allow a windmill to be built in the US' as 'they're killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful planes - and I'm not talking about aeroplanes, I'm talking about beautiful planes, beautiful areas in the US'. He said 'almost all' were made in China and 'when they start to rust and rot in eight years, you can't really turn them off, you can't bury them'. Mr Trump said windmills 'kill the birds' and said: 'You have a certain place in the Massachusetts area that over the last 20 years had one or two whales wash ashore .. cause it's driving them loco. It's driving them crazy.' TRUMP V WINDMILLS Slamming windfarms off the Ayrshire coast, he said 'I mean, today, I'm playing the best course I think in the world, Turnberry - even though I own it, it's probably the best course in the world, right - and I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills right at the end of the 18th hole. 'And I said, 'Isn't that a shame? What a shame.' UK and Scottish government aides are known to be on edge about today's talks with Mr Trump, which will take place between the PM and President at Turnberry, before the pair fly together to Aberdeen, where Mr Swinney will then meet the US leader. All three will then attend a private ceremonial dinner said to involve a 'broad range' of guests including politicians and business figures. Sir Keir is under intense pressure from Labour backbenchers and opposition parties including the SNP to push Mr Trump for the US to revive Gaza ceasefire talks, and also to further the recent UK-US trade deal by pressuring for the removal of punishing ten per cent tariffs on products including Scotch whisky. And Mr Swinney is under fire from left-wingers in the SNP and at Holyrood for even meeting with Mr Trump. The First Minister was blasted by critics at the weekend for announcing £180,000 to help Mr Trump's Menie course to host a golf comp, which wannabe Greens leader Ross Greer claimed was like 'bending the knee' to the US President or 'giving the school bully your lunch money'. A senior Nats source defended Mr Swinney's approach, with the Tories also accusing him of hypocrisy after claims he had last wee 'whipped up' anti-Trump protests, but was now trying to curry favour with the world's most powerful man. The insider said 'There will be complaints about our approach to Trump whatever we do. 'The funding for the event at Trump International Golf Links was a positive announcement and it's our job to make the best of this visit as we possibly can.' Tomorrow morning Mr Trump will carry out the ceremonial opening of the Macleod course at his Menie estate, which it emerged on Saturday was set to get £180,000 from the Scottish Government's tourism and events organisation, VisitScotland, to support its hosting of the 2025 Nexo Championship next month. Police lock down Scots country park and beach ahead of Donald Trump's arrival HOLIDAYMAKERS have been ordered to leave a country park boasting one of Scotland's best beaches as police prepared for Donald Trump's visit to his nearby golf course. Visitors were told to vacate the beauty spot as security is beefed up ahead of US president's trip to his neighbouring Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire tomorrow. Officers locked down Balmedie Country Park and its coastal stretch — which has won 20 awards for the quality of its sand and water. Locals have vowed to protest after the Scottish Government announced a tournament held at his Trump International resort is being given £180,000 of taxpayers' cash. An onlooker said: 'Police were shutting off the beach and the park. 'It's one of the country's best and we're in the middle of the school holidays. 'Trump doesn't own it so it feels ridiculous that people who live here are being told to leave. "Loads of people were told to go. 'Is it any wonder most people around here hate him so much?' Downing Street last night said Mr Trump and Sir Keir are expected to discuss progress on implementing the UK-US trade deal agreed in May, hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East and applying pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. It comes amid pressure on Starmer from Labour MPs to urge the US to rejoin Israel-Hamas peace talks, amid the starvation of kids in Gaza. No10 said in a statement that the 'strength of the UK-US relationship will be on display again' as the PM meets Mr Trump in 'for wide-ranging talks'. It said: 'The leaders are expected to talk one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries. 'The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the President's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. 'Mr Trump's visit comes amid mounting global anger over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Police lock down Scots country park and beach ahead of Donald Trump's arrival Foreign Secretary David Lammy said access to aid in Gaza must be 'urgently accelerated', after air drops by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates yesterday. It came hours after Israel opened up aid corridors and 'refuted' the 'false claim of intentional starvation'. Mr Swinney said: 'My meeting with the US President during his visit to Scotland presents a significant opportunity to speak up for the issues that matter to people in Scotland on the highest platform. Global, humanitarian issues are rightly at the forefront of many people's minds. 'It is of utmost importance that we discuss what action can be taken to end the horrific suffering we are witnessing around the world, particularly the unimaginable hardship being endured by people in Gaza and the need for an urgent ceasefire. 'Both the US President and I share a fundamental desire to build peace across the world and to end the suffering endured by so many. I hope that our discussion helps to further that aim.' Mr Trump will visit the UK again in September for the official state visit announced earlier this year. But a senior whisky industry source warned: 'If the PM comes away from the Trump visit with nothing more on trade there will be serious questions to answer about whether he really fought as hard as possible for Scotland and the UK's interests, or if he just went there and tried not to upset Trump.'
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
John Swinney is accused of 'grandstanding' after holding private talks with top European official
John Swinney has been accused of 'grandstanding' on issues outside his remit during private talks with a top European official who was in Scotland to meet Donald Trump. The First Minister met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Glasgow. The talks happened on Saturday evening without any media being alerted about the meeting, with officials disclosing yesterday that 'the UK's relationship with the European Union ' was discussed, as well as the current situation in Gaza and Ukraine, and Scotland's 'important partnership' with Europe. International relations are reserved to Westminster and Scottish ministers are supposed to stick to devolved areas when holding talks with overseas political leaders. The Scottish Government last night confirmed that no officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) were present despite the First Minister's discussions covering foreign affairs. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'John Swinney may enjoy meeting international leaders and grandstanding about issues outwith the SNP 's remit. 'But most Scots would prefer him to reduce taxes, put businesses on an equal footing with firms in other parts of the UK, and repair the damage his government has inflicted on essential services like our schools and NHS.' Mr Swinney met Ms von der Leyen on Saturday after she arrived in Scotland to hold talks about an EU/US trade deal with President Trump at his Turnberry resort in Ayrshire. Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet the President to discuss issues including a ceasefire in Gaza and the UK's trade deal with the US today at the same venue. Mr Swinney is also due to hold talks with the President during his four-night stay in Scotland. Labour peer Lord George Foulkes said Mr Swinney's discussions with Ms von der Leyen about reserved issues are a 'huge concern'. He said: 'He is interfering in areas which they [the Scottish Government] do not have responsibility. They don't know the sensitivities, they don't have the advice of the FCDO and MOD specialists, so they are not advised properly and they cause confusion if they give different messages from the UK Government. 'On all those reserved areas, the UK Government speaks for Scotland just as much as the rest of the UK. This is them pretending to be independent, which is a total nonsense.' He also raised concerns that Mr Swinney could cause further confusion during his planned talks with Mr Trump. Lord Foulkes said: 'There could be a confusion of the message to Ursula von der Leyen and indeed to Trump. 'He is going to talk about trade to President Trump. Trade is a reserved area. It's an absolute nonsense and perpetuates the myth that Scotland is somehow different to the rest of the UK.' Mr Swinney last night confirmed he will raise 'global humanitarian issues' which are 'at the forefront of many people's minds' with the President. He said: 'It is of utmost importance that we discuss what action can be taken to end the horrific suffering we are witnessing around the world, particularly the unimaginable hardship being endured by people in Gaza and the need for an urgent ceasefire.' Humza Yousaf, Mr Swinney's predecessor, sparked a row with the previous Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron after holding private talks about Gaza with the president of Turkey without UK Government representatives in attendance. Protocols require FCDO officials to attend meetings between representatives of the devolved administrations and representatives of foreign governments. After Mr Yousaf's talks with Mr Erdogan, Lord Cameron threatened to throw Scottish Government officials out of overseas Foreign Office premises if there are any more breaches of the protocol. The Scottish Government said FCDO officials 'assisted in facilitating' the meeting between Mr Swinney and Ms von der Leyen. Sir Keir will meet the US Trump for a formal bilateral meeting this afternoon. Afterwards, they are due to travel for a 'private engagement' at Mr Trump's other Scottish venue on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, which is expected to include dinner. Details of the Menie engagement have been kept under wraps and Downing Street was unable to confirm if the Prime Minister will take part in a round of golf. Sir Keir will risk a major clash with Mr Trump by raising Gaza. Last week, Mr Trump said Hamas 'didn't really want to make a deal' on a new Gaza ceasefire deal. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'The leaders are expected to talk about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries. 'The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the President's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. 'He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long.' Sir Keir is hoping to use the talks to display the strength of the UK/US relationship. It comes ahead of the President's State visit to the UK in September.
