'Ugly' windmills, 'nasty' London mayor and golf: moments from Trump UK trip
Eric Trump applauds as US President Donald Trump tees off, on the day of the grand opening of Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen in Balmedie, Aberdeen.
BALMEDIE, United Kingdom - US President Donald Trump spent five days in Scotland, playing golf, sealing a major trade deal with the EU and weighing in on global conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine.
Here are five talking points from his visit:
Golf diplomacy
Trump's luxury golf courses in Scotland became impromptu hubs for international diplomacy, in a blatant blurring of politics and his family's personal interests.
In front of the world's media, Trump and his son Eric showcased their new golf course opened on July 29 in Balmedie, northeastern Scotland.
Eric Trump hailed the new course as his father's 'Mona Lisa' masterpiece.
The two courses at Balmedie would be 'the greatest 36 holes anywhere on earth', he said, before they teed off with a stunning view as a backdrop.
The US leader also spent time showing off the restored ballroom in his Turnberry resort on the southwestern Scottish coast, where he sealed a deal setting 15-per cent tariffs on EU exports to the States.
Gaza and Ukraine
Perhaps it was the fresh Scottish air, but Trump signalled sudden shifts in his positions on the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine during a long, rambling press conference on Monday with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Having sought since the start of his second term to end the international isolation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the US leader declared he was now 'not so interested in talking (to him) anymore'.
He gave the Russian leader 10 to 12 days to end the war in Ukraine, slashing a 50-day deadline set on July 14.
And he contradicted his staunch ally Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying there was 'real starvation' in Gaza, where Israel is battling Hamas militants.
Trump announced the United States was setting up food centres in the Palestinian territory, adding: 'We have to get the kids fed.'
Starmer charmer
Trump has been known to publicly castigate some world leaders, notably Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an Oval Office dressing down in February.
But he was oozing charm after waiting on the steps of his ornate Turnberry resort like the lord of the manor to greet Keir Starmer on Monday.
'We want to make the prime minister happy,' Trump proclaimed.
He also lavished praise on Starmer's wife, Victoria, who accompanied the UK premier, calling her the 'First Lady'.
'She's a respected person all over the United States,' Trump said, musing that he had better not say more or he would get himself 'into trouble'.
Starmer was later treated to a flight on Air Force One and the presidential helicopter Marine One – a rare privilege for foreign leaders.
'Windmills'
Trump hates 'windmills', fuming at the power-generating turbines erected off the coast of his two Scottish golf resorts, which he says spoil the view.
He has fought for years against a new wind farm off the coast of Aberdeen.
'It destroys the beauty of your fields, your plains and your waterways,' Trump said, denouncing the 'ugly monsters all over the place' while advocating for oil and gas power.
But Starmer, whose government has committed to reach net zero in carbon gas emissions by 2050, calmly replied: 'We believe in a mix.'
'Obviously, oil and gas is going to be with us for a very long time, and that'll be part of the mix, but also wind, solar, increasingly nuclear,' he said.
UK politics
The US leader dismissed London mayor Sadiq Khan as 'a nasty person' when asked whether he would visit London during his state visit set for September, following a long-running feud.
Starmer offered a defence of sorts, telling the US leader: 'He's a friend of mine, actually.'
But doubling down, Trump concluded: 'I think he's done a terrible job. But I would certainly visit London.'
Almost in the same breath he gave a thumbs-up to Starmer's political rival, Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigrant party Reform UK is surging in the polls, pushing Labour into second place.
'I happen to like both men. I like this man a lot, and I like Nigel,' Trump said, adding: 'They're both good men,' but admitting: 'I don't know the politics over here.'
He also addressed the bitter debate about thousands of irregular migrants arriving in the UK on small boats across the Channel.
Starmer was 'doing a fantastic thing' if he was tackling immigration, Trump said, highlighting his own crackdown on migrants crossing into the United States over the Mexico border.
'I know nothing about the boats,' Trump acknowledged, before adding: 'The boats are loaded up with bad people... because, you know, other countries don't send their best, they send people that they don't want.' AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Colombia ex-president Uribe sentenced to 12 years of house arrest, document shows
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox BOGOTA - Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was sentenced on Friday to 12 years of house arrest for abuse of process and bribery of a public official, according to a sentencing document seen by Reuters and a source with knowledge of the matter. Uribe was convicted of the two charges on Monday by Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia in a witness-tampering case that has run for about 13 years. He has always maintained his innocence. The sentencing document, also published by local media, came hours ahead of the hearing where Heredia will read the sentence in court. Uribe will also be fined $578,000, the document showed, and barred from public office for more than eight years. Uribe, whose legal team has said he will appeal the ruling, is to report to authorities in Rionegro, in Antioquia province, where he resides, and then "proceed immediately to his residence where he will comply with house arrest," the document said. The conviction made him the country's first ex-president to ever be found guilty at trial and came less than a year before Colombia's 2026 presidential election, in which several of Uribe's allies and proteges are competing for top office. It could also have implications for Colombia's relationship with the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that Uribe's conviction was a "weaponization of Colombia's judicial branch by radical judges" and analysts have said there could be cuts to U.S. aid in response. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam Business Singapore's US tariff rate stays at 10%, but the Republic is not out of the woods yet Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Business ST explains: How Trump tariffs could affect Singapore SMEs, jobs and markets Asia Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts Singapore Thundery showers expected on most days in first half of August Singapore Synapxe chief executive, MND deputy secretary to become new perm secs on Sept 1 Singapore 5 women face capital charges after they were allegedly found with nearly 27kg of cocaine in S'pore Uribe, 73, and his supporters have always said the process is a persecution, while his detractors have celebrated it as deserved comeuppance for a man who has been accused for decades of close ties with violent right-wing paramilitaries but never convicted of any crime until now. TESTIMONIES FROM FORMER PARAMILITARIES Uribe, who was president from 2002 to 2010 and oversaw a military offensive against leftist guerrillas, was charged over allegations he ordered a lawyer to bribe jailed paramilitaries to discredit claims he had ties to their organizations. Those claims stemmed from leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda, who collected testimonies from former paramilitaries who said Uribe had supported their organizations in Antioquia, where he once served as governor. Uribe alleged in 2012 that Cepeda orchestrated the testimonies in a plot to tie him to the paramilitaries, but the Supreme Court ruled six years later that Cepeda had not paid or pressured the ex-paramilitaries. Instead, the court said it was Uribe and his allies who pressured the witnesses. Cepeda has been classed as a victim in the case and attended Monday's hearing. Two jailed former paramilitaries testified that Diego Cadena, the lawyer formerly representing Uribe, offered them money to testify in Uribe's favor. Cadena, who is also facing charges, has denied the accusations and testified, along with several other ex-paramilitaries, on Uribe's behalf. Each charge carried a potential sentence of six to 12 years. Uribe, who was placed under house arrest for two months in 2020, is head of the powerful Democratic Center party and was a senator for years both before and after his presidency. He has repeatedly emphasized that he extradited paramilitary leaders to the United States. Colombia's truth commission says paramilitary groups, which demobilized under deals with Uribe's government, killed more than 205,000 people, nearly half of the 450,000 deaths recorded during the ongoing civil conflict. Paramilitaries, along with guerrilla groups and members of the armed forces, also committed forced disappearances, sexual violence, displacement and other crimes. Uribe joins a list of Latin American leaders who have been convicted and sometimes jailed, including Peru's Alberto Fujimori, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Ecuador's Rafael Correa, Argentina's Cristina Fernandez and Panama's Ricardo Martinelli. REUTERS
Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Chinese soccer team train for inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A T1 humanoid robot developed by Booster Robotics falls on a football pitch, during a practice in preparation for soccer competitions at the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games, at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China August 1, 2025. REUTERS/Florence Lo BEIJING - On a soccer pitch in Beijing, "T1" is practising shots and taking up positions. T1 is no ordinary player, however, but a gold medal-winning humanoid robot training for the first World Humanoid Robot Games, taking place in Beijing from August 15. T1 is part of a race to take the lead in humanoid robotics, as China looks to become more self-sufficient in advanced technologies. The Games will bring together teams from more than 20 countries for events ranging from track and field to dance and martial arts, as well as practical applications such as industrial handling and medical services. T1 and its two teammates, fielded by Tsinghua University's Hephaestus team, made history for China last month by winning gold in the "Humanoid, adult size" category of the 28-year-old RoboCup Humanoid League in Brazil. "The Chinese government is actively promoting humanoid robot development," said Zhao Mingguo, Chief Scientist at Booster Robotics, maker of the T1. "To advance technology, the government is actively organising competitive events, and this sports games is one such experience." While some may dismiss such events as gimmicks, industry experts and participants see them as a decisive spur to advance humanoid robots toward practical real-world deployment. Although the Hephaestus team would hardly trouble even junior human opposition, Booster Robotics views soccer as a powerful test of perception, decision-making and control technologies that could later be applied in factories or homes. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam Business Singapore's US tariff rate stays at 10%, but the Republic is not out of the woods yet Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Business ST explains: How Trump tariffs could affect Singapore SMEs, jobs and markets Asia Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts Singapore Thundery showers expected on most days in first half of August Singapore Synapxe chief executive, MND deputy secretary to become new perm secs on Sept 1 Singapore 5 women face capital charges after they were allegedly found with nearly 27kg of cocaine in S'pore "Playing football is a testing and training ground for ... helping us refine our capabilities," Zhao said. And just as in real life, moving on from the training ground is often a challenge. Hephaestus is building on software developed for Brazil to improve the players' positioning skills. But the performance of humanoid robots still depends to a great extent on environmental variables such as the surface and hardness of the ground and the gradient of any slopes, according to Hephaestus's Chen Penghui. It wouldn't be the first time a soccer team had visited a new venue and bemoaned the state of the pitch. REUTERS
Straits Times
29 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Milner to honour former teammate Jota with jersey number switch
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Brighton & Hove Albion's James Milner will don the number 20 shirt this season as a tribute to former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in Spain last month. Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in early July when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames in northwestern Spain. The Portuguese forward had worn the number 20 during his time at Liverpool, where he and Milner played together for three seasons before the veteran midfielder's move to Brighton in 2023. "Once I heard Carlos (Baleba) was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and obviously pay tribute to Diogo Jota," Milner said. "(He was) an amazing player I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well. So it'd be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League." Liverpool are permanently retiring the number 20 after consultation with the player's wife Rute and family. The squad number will not be used at any level, including the women's team and academy. The 39-year-old Milner recently agreed a one-year contract extension with Brighton and is chasing Premier League history of his own. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Tech Reporting suspected advanced cyber attacks will provide a defence framework: Shanmugam Business Singapore's US tariff rate stays at 10%, but the Republic is not out of the woods yet Asia Asia-Pacific economies welcome new US tariff rates, but concerns over extent of full impact remain Business ST explains: How Trump tariffs could affect Singapore SMEs, jobs and markets Asia Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupts Singapore Thundery showers expected on most days in first half of August Singapore Synapxe chief executive, MND deputy secretary to become new perm secs on Sept 1 Singapore 5 women face capital charges after they were allegedly found with nearly 27kg of cocaine in S'pore With 638 Premier League appearances already to his name, he sits within striking distance of Gareth Barry's all-time record of 653 games. REUTERS
