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I Spent 3+ Hours at Madewell Trying on Summer Outfits for My Europe Trips—These 10 Made the Cut, From $23

I Spent 3+ Hours at Madewell Trying on Summer Outfits for My Europe Trips—These 10 Made the Cut, From $23

When I'm packing for a trip, Madewell's clothing racks are pretty much my one-stop shop for creating full travel outfits. These items are comfy, stylish, and high-quality—aka, they're basically made for museum tours, café-hopping, and everything in between. So when I started prepping for two back-to-back summer vacations to Italy and France, I didn't even hesitate and went straight to the Soho store in New York City, ready to do some shopping (in the name of research, of course).
If you're a fellow Madewell fan, I did the hard part for you: I tried on what felt like an entire suitcase's worth of clothes, and narrowed it down to the styles that looked and felt amazing, and would arrive in good condition after a long flight.
Three hours, one very patient fitting room attendant, and a lot of mirror selfies later, I landed on 10 summer travel outfits I truly love. From breezy linen pants and matching sets to flowy maxi skirts and classic summer dresses, there's something here for every type of trip—and prices start at just $23.
The moment I slipped into this maxi dress, I knew it was coming with me. The smocked bodice hugs just right without feeling tight, and the gauzy cotton moves beautifully—light and breathable enough for even the stickiest summer days. It's the kind of piece I can wear straight from a beachside stroll to a sunset dinner.
I styled it with these handwoven ballet flats, which feel surprisingly cushioned for how structured they look. They're also currently 55 percent off, which made them an even easier decision. To finish the look, I added a layered shell necklace set for just the right hint of coastal charm. I already have this outfit mentally packed for my wine tour in Tuscany.
This pinstriped jumpsuit instantly struck that ideal balance between tailored and easy—the kind of outfit that looks pulled together with zero effort. The wide-leg silhouette adds movement and breathability, and since it's one piece, it's a dream for packing light. I paired it with the Milano Mid-heeled Sandals that were shockingly comfortable, even after a few laps around the fitting room.
The Handwoven Shoulder Bag brings texture without the bulk, and I topped it off with classic aviators for a look that feels just as right for a day of sightseeing as it does for a late-afternoon spritz in Florence. Psst, now's the perfect time to grab the jumpsuit while it's sporting a near-$40 off discount.
This outfit feels like my ultimate travel uniform—relaxed, versatile, and ready for the heat. The Cotton Double-gauze Oversized Shirt is airy and lightweight, ideal for hot days when I still want to look put together. I styled it with the Relaxed Pleated Trouser Shorts in 100% Linen that drape beautifully and have that easy, effortless vibe I always look for in warm-weather outfits.
The braided belt adds shape, while the strappy toe-ring sandals pull everything together with a low-key, Euro-summer feel. I can already picture myself rewearing this entire look for everything from market mornings in Provence to lazy beachside lunches in Cinque Terre.
I've always loved a matching set for travel, and this linen duo is the kind of outfit I'll reach for on repeat. The curved-hem shorts offer a flattering shape without feeling fussy, and Easy Button-up Shirt has a clean, minimalist cut that makes it feel a little elevated.
Worn together, the set is an easy go-to for mornings when I don't want to think too hard about what to wear. I also love how versatile it is—I can pair the shorts with a white tank or throw the top over jeans for a totally different look. To finish the outfit, I added these double-strap slingback sandals that feel sporty and polished at once, and just right for any casual day on the go.
This midi skirt is one of those rare finds that call for comfort without compromising on style. The smocked waistband sits comfortably and moves with you, and the blue-jean shade offers a dressier twist on classic denim while still pairing easily with anything in my suitcase. I styled it with Madewell's ribbed tank, a staple I always pack because it layers well and goes with everything.
I finished the look with The Handwoven Straw Mini Tote, which is spacious enough to hold all the essentials—sunglasses, a Kindle, sunscreen, and even a camera—while still looking pulled together for exploring a new city.
The Zoe Relaxed Linen Pants will become my go-to for a relaxed travel day look, since they're so comfortable without feeling lazy. The wide-leg cut is incredibly breezy, and the subtle vertical stripes make it feel just a little more elevated. Plus, they're 40 percent off.
I paired the pants with their cotton V-neck tank that's soft, easy to layer, and one of those pieces I'll end up reaching for every day of my trip. To tie it all together, I slipped on the Maude double-strap sandals again— they've been a surprisingly versatile staple in every outfit I tried.
This outfit feels like summer in a snapshot. The 1997 Denim Bermuda Shorts have a retro-cool vibe but still feel modern with a clean, high-rise fit. I tucked in this Boatneck Bubble Tee, which has a slightly boxy shape that balances the slim shorts perfectly.
Here, the braided belt polishes up the look (and it's 40 percent off), while the ankle-wrap leather sandals add a fun, feminine twist that makes the whole outfit feel vacation-ready—whether I'm off to the farmer's market or grabbing lunch along the coast.
The second I put on the Striped V-neck Midi Dress, I felt like I was somewhere in the South of France. It's made from 100 percent linen, so it's naturally breezy, but the flattering V-neck and midi length give it a more refined, all-day-wear kind of feel.
My favorite feature is definitely the pockets, as it adds to the carefree travel look. It's the kind of piece I'd wear to a garden lunch in Provence or throw on after a swim when I still want to look pulled together. I kept it simple with the Logan Aviator Sunglasses—classic and cool, just like the dress.
This might be my favorite outfit of the bunch. The Linen Maxi Slip Skirt has such an effortless drape and moves beautifully with every step. I styled it with the Linen Scoopneck Cutaway Vest for a head-to-toe monochrome look that feels modern and put-together without being too precious.
It's a lightweight, breathable pairing that works just as well for city wandering as it does for a casual dinner out. I finished it with the mini handwoven tote, which fits all the essentials and adds a bit of texture.
The Poplin Seamed Maxi Dress is a dream for hot, sticky weather—the structured seams give it shape, but the cotton fabric keeps things feeling light and airy. It's one of those dresses that looks great with minimal effort, which is exactly what I need when I'm living out of a suitcase.
I added the Organic Wide Cuff Bracelet to dress it up a bit, and I love how the contrast makes the outfit feel city-ready without being overdone. I could easily wear this to explore a new neighborhood or grab a last-minute dinner reservation. I also love the pop of color.
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Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland
Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland

CNN

timean hour ago

  • CNN

Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland

Fleeing Washington's oppressive humidity and nonstop questions over heated controversies, President Donald Trump is once again taking weekend refuge at his golf clubs — this time more than 3,000 miles away in Scotland. While the White House has called his five-day trip a 'working visit,' it's fairly light on the formal itinerary. Trump is poised to hold trade talks Sunday with the chief of the European Union and is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. But he's expected to spend most of his trip out of public view at two of his golf resorts – Trump Turnberry in the west and Trump International about 200 miles away in the north, near his mother's ancestral homeland. 'We have a lot of things in Scotland,' Trump said as he left the White House on Friday, noting his familial ties to the land. 'I have a lot of love.' Even with protesters threatening to disrupt the visit, Trump's four nights in temperate Scotland come as a summertime respite after six months back in office. His administration is engulfed in a deepening political crisis over its handling of disclosures around the case of Jeffrey Epstein, accused sex trafficker and former friend of the president's. Nearly every time Trump has spoken with reporters in recent weeks, he's been pressed with new questions about the Epstein scandal, many of which are fueled by deep suspicions that he and his followers have been stirring for years. New revelations about his personal ties to the disgraced financier have kept the matter alive. The Scotland trip schedule allows Trump to focus instead on areas where he's more comfortable: trade deals, his family businesses and golf. Trump often speaks fondly of his ties to Scotland, the birthplace of his late mother, though the feeling has been far from mutual — his development of luxury golf resorts over the last two decades has ignited objections from many local residents. Thousands of demonstrators marched in the streets here in 2018 during his first presidential visit. The centerpiece of this trip is a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday for a new 18-hole golf course in Aberdeenshire on the windswept coast of the North Sea. It's named the MacLeod Course in honor of Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in 1912 outside of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. She left for New York in 1930 at the age of 18, emigrating to the United States following World War I. She married Fred C. Trump, the son of German immigrants, in 1936 and died in 2000. A black and white photograph of her sits prominently behind the president's desk in the Oval Office. Authorities in Scotland have spent weeks preparing for Trump's arrival. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond told reporters the security operation would be the largest the country has mounted since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, including local officers, national security divisions and special constables. The overall tone toward Trump has been markedly less fond, however. The Friday edition of The National, a liberal-leaning newspaper that supports Scottish independence, rolled out a not-so-welcoming message to Trump with a blaring and bold front-page headline: 'Convicted US Felon to Arrive in Scotland.' A group called Stop Trump Scotland, a coalition of demonstrators, said it planned to organize protests at Aberdeen and outside the US consulate in Edinburgh as part of a 'Festival of Resistance.' Photographs of a sign outside one of his golf clubs that said 'Twinned with Epstein Island' were circulated online and published in UK newspapers. As he left the White House on Friday, Trump made no mention of the disapproval awaiting him. He said he eagerly anticipated meeting left-leaning Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who has been an outspoken critic and last year endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. 'He's a good man,' Trump told reporters. 'I look forward to meeting him.' With trade talks intensifying, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday that she planned to meet with Trump in Scotland on Sunday 'to discuss transatlantic trade relations and how we can keep them strong.' Trump said earlier there was a '50-50' chance he would reach a trade deal with the EU, adding as he departed for Scotland that his administration was 'working very diligently' with Europe. Trump's meeting with von der Leyen — whom he has not yet hosted at the White House — comes as the EU rushes to clinch a trade deal with its largest trading partner that would stave off a threatened 30% tariff set to take effect August 1. In the past, Trump has adopted a hostile attitude toward the European Union, claiming it was formed to 'screw' the United States. He has maintained a somewhat distant relationship with von der Leyen, who was close to former President Joe Biden, adding another complexity to their Sunday meeting. 'That would be, actually, the biggest deal of them all if we make it,' Trump said of a potential agreement with the European Union after he landed in Scotland Friday. It's the first visit Trump has made to the country since 2023, when he broke ground on the golf course dedicated to his mother. But returning this weekend as the sitting American president has roused critics, including Green Party leader and member of parliament, Patrick Harvie. 'Donald Trump is a convicted criminal and political extremist,' Harvie told reporters in Scotland this week. 'There can be no excuses for trying to cozy up to his increasingly fascist political agenda.' While golf is the primary item on Trump's weekend schedule, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the trip as 'a working visit that will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer to refine the historic US-UK trade deal.' Starmer has worked to develop a warm relationship with Trump, visiting him at the White House in February and holding conversations since then on trade, military support for Ukraine and other global challenges. It's paid off, at least somewhat — Starmer is one of a handful of country leaders who have secured a trade deal with Trump. The deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, officials said, is expected to be among the topics discussed, but British officials have generally been working to lower expectations for the Monday meeting, suggesting it is a prelude to an official state visit in September. Trump is set to return to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III for a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle. He was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 at Buckingham Palace. 'This is really special,' Starmer said in February when he extended the invitation to Trump in a letter from the King. 'This has never happened before, this is unprecedented.' The Scotland visit is the fifth international trip Trump has taken since returning to office. He briefly visited Rome for Pope Francis' funeral in April, toured the Middle East in May, met with G7 leaders in Canada and attended a NATO summit in the Hague in June. 'President Trump's affinity for Scotland is real, regardless of what people think of his politics,' Anas Sarwar, the Labour Party leader in Scotland wrote in an April essay in The Times of London. 'His family's investments in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire are real and significant.' This is the first trip overseas that is built nearly entirely around a weekend of golf. For a president who repeatedly railed against his predecessors for golfing – and called last week on the Republican Senate to cancel its annual August recess and 'long weekends' to keep working on his agenda – Trump hits the links without apology, no matter the season. From his regular winter visits to two of his courses in Florida to his spring and summer trips to his clubs in Virginia and New Jersey, seldom does a weekend go by that Trump doesn't spend time at one of his golf courses or resorts. On this trip, Trump is scheduled to spend three nights at Trump Turnberry, a luxury resort that he has owned since 2014 on the west coast, overlooking the Irish Sea. 'It's the best resort in the world, I think,' Trump boasted of his club. He will also spend one night at his course in Aberdeenshire, on the northern coast, and take part in the only public event expected on his itinerary: a dedication ceremony for a second 18-hole course. The president voiced optimism that one day the British Open would return to Turnberry. It was last held at Trump's course on the Scottish west coast in 2009, five years before Trump purchased the resort. 'I think they will do that,' Trump said Friday. 'Turnberry is rated the No. 1 course in the world.' The organizers of the Open have said concerns over lack of hotel space and some local road infrastructure challenges have prevented the championship from being played there. Politics is also at play, which was underscored by a full-page advertisement in the National newspaper on Friday that urged the public to sign a petition against it. 'Don't let the divisiveness of Donald Trump hijack and overshadow this great event,' the advertisement said. 'Do the right thing. Don't give The Open to Trump Turnberry.' Alejandra Jaramillo contributed to this report.

Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland
Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland

CNN

timean hour ago

  • CNN

Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland

Donald Trump UK Golf European UnionFacebookTweetLink Follow Fleeing Washington's oppressive humidity and nonstop questions over heated controversies, President Donald Trump is once again taking weekend refuge at his golf clubs — this time more than 3,000 miles away in Scotland. While the White House has called his five-day trip a 'working visit,' it's fairly light on the formal itinerary. Trump is poised to hold trade talks Sunday with the chief of the European Union and is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. But he's expected to spend most of his trip out of public view at two of his golf resorts – Trump Turnberry in the west and Trump International about 200 miles away in the north, near his mother's ancestral homeland. 'We have a lot of things in Scotland,' Trump said as he left the White House on Friday, noting his familial ties to the land. 'I have a lot of love.' Even with protesters threatening to disrupt the visit, Trump's four nights in temperate Scotland come as a summertime respite after six months back in office. His administration is engulfed in a deepening political crisis over its handling of disclosures around the case of Jeffrey Epstein, accused sex trafficker and former friend of the president's. Nearly every time Trump has spoken with reporters in recent weeks, he's been pressed with new questions about the Epstein scandal, many of which are fueled by deep suspicions that he and his followers have been stirring for years. New revelations about his personal ties to the disgraced financier have kept the matter alive. The Scotland trip schedule allows Trump to focus instead on areas where he's more comfortable: trade deals, his family businesses and golf. Trump often speaks fondly of his ties to Scotland, the birthplace of his late mother, though the feeling has been far from mutual — his development of luxury golf resorts over the last two decades has ignited objections from many local residents. Thousands of demonstrators marched in the streets here in 2018 during his first presidential visit. The centerpiece of this trip is a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday for a new 18-hole golf course in Aberdeenshire on the windswept coast of the North Sea. It's named the MacLeod Course in honor of Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in 1912 outside of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. She left for New York in 1930 at the age of 18, emigrating to the United States following World War I. She married Fred C. Trump, the son of German immigrants, in 1936 and died in 2000. A black and white photograph of her sits prominently behind the president's desk in the Oval Office. Authorities in Scotland have spent weeks preparing for Trump's arrival. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond told reporters the security operation would be the largest the country has mounted since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, including local officers, national security divisions and special constables. The overall tone toward Trump has been markedly less fond, however. The Friday edition of The National, a liberal-leaning newspaper that supports Scottish independence, rolled out a not-so-welcoming message to Trump with a blaring and bold front-page headline: 'Convicted US Felon to Arrive in Scotland.' A group called Stop Trump Scotland, a coalition of demonstrators, said it planned to organize protests at Aberdeen and outside the US consulate in Edinburgh as part of a 'Festival of Resistance.' Photographs of a sign outside one of his golf clubs that said 'Twinned with Epstein Island' were circulated online and published in UK newspapers. As he left the White House on Friday, Trump made no mention of the disapproval awaiting him. He said he eagerly anticipated meeting left-leaning Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who has been an outspoken critic and last year endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. 'He's a good man,' Trump told reporters. 'I look forward to meeting him.' With trade talks intensifying, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday that she planned to meet with Trump in Scotland on Sunday 'to discuss transatlantic trade relations and how we can keep them strong.' Trump said earlier there was a '50-50' chance he would reach a trade deal with the EU, adding as he departed for Scotland that his administration was 'working very diligently' with Europe. Trump's meeting with von der Leyen — whom he has not yet hosted at the White House — comes as the EU rushes to clinch a trade deal with its largest trading partner that would stave off a threatened 30% tariff set to take effect August 1. In the past, Trump has adopted a hostile attitude toward the European Union, claiming it was formed to 'screw' the United States. He has maintained a somewhat distant relationship with von der Leyen, who was close to former President Joe Biden, adding another complexity to their Sunday meeting. 'That would be, actually, the biggest deal of them all if we make it,' Trump said of a potential agreement with the European Union after he landed in Scotland Friday. It's the first visit Trump has made to the country since 2023, when he broke ground on the golf course dedicated to his mother. But returning this weekend as the sitting American president has roused critics, including Green Party leader and member of parliament, Patrick Harvie. 'Donald Trump is a convicted criminal and political extremist,' Harvie told reporters in Scotland this week. 'There can be no excuses for trying to cozy up to his increasingly fascist political agenda.' While golf is the primary item on Trump's weekend schedule, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the trip as 'a working visit that will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer to refine the historic US-UK trade deal.' Starmer has worked to develop a warm relationship with Trump, visiting him at the White House in February and holding conversations since then on trade, military support for Ukraine and other global challenges. It's paid off, at least somewhat — Starmer is one of a handful of country leaders who have secured a trade deal with Trump. The deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, officials said, is expected to be among the topics discussed, but British officials have generally been working to lower expectations for the Monday meeting, suggesting it is a prelude to an official state visit in September. Trump is set to return to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III for a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle. He was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 at Buckingham Palace. 'This is really special,' Starmer said in February when he extended the invitation to Trump in a letter from the King. 'This has never happened before, this is unprecedented.' The Scotland visit is the fifth international trip Trump has taken since returning to office. He briefly visited Rome for Pope Francis' funeral in April, toured the Middle East in May, met with G7 leaders in Canada and attended a NATO summit in the Hague in June. 'President Trump's affinity for Scotland is real, regardless of what people think of his politics,' Anas Sarwar, the Labour Party leader in Scotland wrote in an April essay in The Times of London. 'His family's investments in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire are real and significant.' This is the first trip overseas that is built nearly entirely around a weekend of golf. For a president who repeatedly railed against his predecessors for golfing – and called last week on the Republican Senate to cancel its annual August recess and 'long weekends' to keep working on his agenda – Trump hits the links without apology, no matter the season. From his regular winter visits to two of his courses in Florida to his spring and summer trips to his clubs in Virginia and New Jersey, seldom does a weekend go by that Trump doesn't spend time at one of his golf courses or resorts. On this trip, Trump is scheduled to spend three nights at Trump Turnberry, a luxury resort that he has owned since 2014 on the west coast, overlooking the Irish Sea. 'It's the best resort in the world, I think,' Trump boasted of his club. He will also spend one night at his course in Aberdeenshire, on the northern coast, and take part in the only public event expected on his itinerary: a dedication ceremony for a second 18-hole course. The president voiced optimism that one day the British Open would return to Turnberry. It was last held at Trump's course on the Scottish west coast in 2009, five years before Trump purchased the resort. 'I think they will do that,' Trump said Friday. 'Turnberry is rated the No. 1 course in the world.' The organizers of the Open have said concerns over lack of hotel space and some local road infrastructure challenges have prevented the championship from being played there. Politics is also at play, which was underscored by a full-page advertisement in the National newspaper on Friday that urged the public to sign a petition against it. 'Don't let the divisiveness of Donald Trump hijack and overshadow this great event,' the advertisement said. 'Do the right thing. Don't give The Open to Trump Turnberry.' Alejandra Jaramillo contributed to this report.

Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland
Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland

CNN

timean hour ago

  • CNN

Trump flees Washington controversies for golf-heavy trip to Scotland

Donald Trump UK Golf European UnionFacebookTweetLink Follow Fleeing Washington's oppressive humidity and nonstop questions over heated controversies, President Donald Trump is once again taking weekend refuge at his golf clubs — this time more than 3,000 miles away in Scotland. While the White House has called his five-day trip a 'working visit,' it's fairly light on the formal itinerary. Trump is poised to hold trade talks Sunday with the chief of the European Union and is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. But he's expected to spend most of his trip out of public view at two of his golf resorts – Trump Turnberry in the west and Trump International about 200 miles away in the north, near his mother's ancestral homeland. 'We have a lot of things in Scotland,' Trump said as he left the White House on Friday, noting his familial ties to the land. 'I have a lot of love.' Even with protesters threatening to disrupt the visit, Trump's four nights in temperate Scotland come as a summertime respite after six months back in office. His administration is engulfed in a deepening political crisis over its handling of disclosures around the case of Jeffrey Epstein, accused sex trafficker and former friend of the president's. Nearly every time Trump has spoken with reporters in recent weeks, he's been pressed with new questions about the Epstein scandal, many of which are fueled by deep suspicions that he and his followers have been stirring for years. New revelations about his personal ties to the disgraced financier have kept the matter alive. The Scotland trip schedule allows Trump to focus instead on areas where he's more comfortable: trade deals, his family businesses and golf. Trump often speaks fondly of his ties to Scotland, the birthplace of his late mother, though the feeling has been far from mutual — his development of luxury golf resorts over the last two decades has ignited objections from many local residents. Thousands of demonstrators marched in the streets here in 2018 during his first presidential visit. The centerpiece of this trip is a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday for a new 18-hole golf course in Aberdeenshire on the windswept coast of the North Sea. It's named the MacLeod Course in honor of Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in 1912 outside of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. She left for New York in 1930 at the age of 18, emigrating to the United States following World War I. She married Fred C. Trump, the son of German immigrants, in 1936 and died in 2000. A black and white photograph of her sits prominently behind the president's desk in the Oval Office. Authorities in Scotland have spent weeks preparing for Trump's arrival. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond told reporters the security operation would be the largest the country has mounted since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, including local officers, national security divisions and special constables. The overall tone toward Trump has been markedly less fond, however. The Friday edition of The National, a liberal-leaning newspaper that supports Scottish independence, rolled out a not-so-welcoming message to Trump with a blaring and bold front-page headline: 'Convicted US Felon to Arrive in Scotland.' A group called Stop Trump Scotland, a coalition of demonstrators, said it planned to organize protests at Aberdeen and outside the US consulate in Edinburgh as part of a 'Festival of Resistance.' Photographs of a sign outside one of his golf clubs that said 'Twinned with Epstein Island' were circulated online and published in UK newspapers. As he left the White House on Friday, Trump made no mention of the disapproval awaiting him. He said he eagerly anticipated meeting left-leaning Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who has been an outspoken critic and last year endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. 'He's a good man,' Trump told reporters. 'I look forward to meeting him.' With trade talks intensifying, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced Friday that she planned to meet with Trump in Scotland on Sunday 'to discuss transatlantic trade relations and how we can keep them strong.' Trump said earlier there was a '50-50' chance he would reach a trade deal with the EU, adding as he departed for Scotland that his administration was 'working very diligently' with Europe. Trump's meeting with von der Leyen — whom he has not yet hosted at the White House — comes as the EU rushes to clinch a trade deal with its largest trading partner that would stave off a threatened 30% tariff set to take effect August 1. In the past, Trump has adopted a hostile attitude toward the European Union, claiming it was formed to 'screw' the United States. He has maintained a somewhat distant relationship with von der Leyen, who was close to former President Joe Biden, adding another complexity to their Sunday meeting. 'That would be, actually, the biggest deal of them all if we make it,' Trump said of a potential agreement with the European Union after he landed in Scotland Friday. It's the first visit Trump has made to the country since 2023, when he broke ground on the golf course dedicated to his mother. But returning this weekend as the sitting American president has roused critics, including Green Party leader and member of parliament, Patrick Harvie. 'Donald Trump is a convicted criminal and political extremist,' Harvie told reporters in Scotland this week. 'There can be no excuses for trying to cozy up to his increasingly fascist political agenda.' While golf is the primary item on Trump's weekend schedule, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the trip as 'a working visit that will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer to refine the historic US-UK trade deal.' Starmer has worked to develop a warm relationship with Trump, visiting him at the White House in February and holding conversations since then on trade, military support for Ukraine and other global challenges. It's paid off, at least somewhat — Starmer is one of a handful of country leaders who have secured a trade deal with Trump. The deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, officials said, is expected to be among the topics discussed, but British officials have generally been working to lower expectations for the Monday meeting, suggesting it is a prelude to an official state visit in September. Trump is set to return to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III for a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle. He was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 at Buckingham Palace. 'This is really special,' Starmer said in February when he extended the invitation to Trump in a letter from the King. 'This has never happened before, this is unprecedented.' The Scotland visit is the fifth international trip Trump has taken since returning to office. He briefly visited Rome for Pope Francis' funeral in April, toured the Middle East in May, met with G7 leaders in Canada and attended a NATO summit in the Hague in June. 'President Trump's affinity for Scotland is real, regardless of what people think of his politics,' Anas Sarwar, the Labour Party leader in Scotland wrote in an April essay in The Times of London. 'His family's investments in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire are real and significant.' This is the first trip overseas that is built nearly entirely around a weekend of golf. For a president who repeatedly railed against his predecessors for golfing – and called last week on the Republican Senate to cancel its annual August recess and 'long weekends' to keep working on his agenda – Trump hits the links without apology, no matter the season. From his regular winter visits to two of his courses in Florida to his spring and summer trips to his clubs in Virginia and New Jersey, seldom does a weekend go by that Trump doesn't spend time at one of his golf courses or resorts. On this trip, Trump is scheduled to spend three nights at Trump Turnberry, a luxury resort that he has owned since 2014 on the west coast, overlooking the Irish Sea. 'It's the best resort in the world, I think,' Trump boasted of his club. He will also spend one night at his course in Aberdeenshire, on the northern coast, and take part in the only public event expected on his itinerary: a dedication ceremony for a second 18-hole course. The president voiced optimism that one day the British Open would return to Turnberry. It was last held at Trump's course on the Scottish west coast in 2009, five years before Trump purchased the resort. 'I think they will do that,' Trump said Friday. 'Turnberry is rated the No. 1 course in the world.' The organizers of the Open have said concerns over lack of hotel space and some local road infrastructure challenges have prevented the championship from being played there. Politics is also at play, which was underscored by a full-page advertisement in the National newspaper on Friday that urged the public to sign a petition against it. 'Don't let the divisiveness of Donald Trump hijack and overshadow this great event,' the advertisement said. 'Do the right thing. Don't give The Open to Trump Turnberry.' Alejandra Jaramillo contributed to this report.

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