Trump's Scotland holiday was a triumph – but trouble awaits back home

Telegraph

4 days ago

It has been the perfect working holiday.
On his four-day trip to Scotland, Donald Trump played golf with his family, jousted with journalists and cut a trillion-dollar trade deal with the EU.
But as he lined up his tee shot on the first hole of his new course near Aberdeen, there was just a hint that his mind had already drifted towards the domestic and international crises he faces when he returns to Washington on Tuesday evening.
'We'll play it very quickly, and then I go back to DC, and we put out fires all over the world,' he said.
The questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire paedophile, have not gone away and he must now make some tough decisions about the conflict in Gaza.
His own supporters still want to know why his officials went back on promises that they would reveal all the evidence from the Epstein case, amid suspicions that a powerful cabal of paedophiles was being protected.
But for a few days on this side of the Atlantic, he seemed alleviated of those stresses.
'Thank you everybody, and thank you to the media,' he said, his good mood spilling over towards one of his favourite punchbags.
'The media has been terrific, believe it or not! Fake news not one time today. Today, they're wonderful news.'
It was an unusual compliment from a politician who has based much of his career on deriding the reporters who cover him.
Even the bank of wind turbines, which he has criticised throughout his visit, went unmentioned.
It was the sign of a president in good cheer throughout his trip to Scotland, which was billed as a 'working visit' but was really a thinly-disguised chance to unwind.
He flew into Scotland on Friday evening and spent his first 24 hours in the country out of sight of the media, playing golf on his Turnberry course with Eric, his son, who manages his businesses.
He golfed again on Sunday morning but got to play the part of 'dealmaker in chief' in the afternoon, when Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, arrived for a hastily-arranged meeting to talk trade.
An hour later, the president announced that they had reached a deal. It would see the European Union buy $700 billion (£525 billion) of American energy and invest $600 billion on US soil, in return for a reduction in tariffs.
An elated Mr Trump called it 'the biggest of the all deals' but flashed irritation when Washington headlines intruded on his moment.
'Oh, you've got to be kidding me,' he said when asked if the deal had been rushed through to distract from the Epstein controversy at home. 'No, had nothing to do with it. Only you would think that.'
The next day, he hosted Sir Keir Starmer, treating the prime minister to a ride on Air Force One and Marine One, the presidential aeroplane and helicopter.
He praised Lady Starmer: 'I don't know what he's [Sir Keir] doing but she's very respected, as respected as him. I don't want to say more, I'll get myself in trouble. But she's very, she's a great woman and is very highly respected.'
Now he must return to Washington and the controversy over Epstein. His own supporters still want to know why his officials went back on promises that they would reveal all the evidence from the case, amid suspicions that a powerful cabal of paedophiles was being protected.
Mr Trump hinted at unfinished business just before he set off on his new course when he said: 'I go back to DC, and we put out fires all over the world.'
The war in Ukraine has proven stubbornly intractable, despite Mr Trump's promise to end it on the first day of his presidency. And he must decide just what to do about Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and his new threat to introduce secondary sanction on Russia within ten to 12 days.
Growing revulsion at images of starving children emerging from Gaza means he is under increasing pressure to take a tougher stance on Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.
'We are working together to try and get things straightened out for the world,' he said when asked what he would say to Mr Netanyahu.'
He is due to have lunch with JD Vance, the vice-president, where the pair can share notes about holidaying in the UK. Mr Vance is expected to visit London, the Cotswolds, and Scotland with his family next month.
Mr Trump will be back in September, when he will become the first world leader in modern times to undertake two state visits to Britain. The special relationship endures.
'I hate to say it, but nobody does it like you people in terms of the pomp and ceremony,' Mr Trump said. 'I'm a big fan of King Charles. I've known him for quite a while. Great guy, great person.'
Sir Keir added: 'This is going to be a historic occasion and we're all very much looking forward to it.'