Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks ahead of EU trade deal
However, he said there were still "sticking points" with Brussels on "maybe 20 different things."Trump said his meeting with Starmer would be more of a celebration of the trade deal already reached than continued work on it, adding, "It's a great deal for both."Before he left Washington, Trump said his administration was working hard on a possible trade deal with the EU, and Brussels was keen to make a deal. Von der Leyen said later she would meet Trump in Scotland on Sunday.EU diplomats say a deal could result in a 15% tariff on EU goods, mirroring a framework accord with Japan reached this week and half of the 30% Trump is threatening to impose by August 1.Trump has sought to reorder the global economy after imposing a 10% tariff on nearly all trading partners in April and threatening sharply higher rates for many countries to kick in a week from now. Trump says the moves will reduce the US trade deficit and bring in extra revenue, but economists warn the new trade policies could drive up inflation.'DON'T TALK ABOUT TRUMP'Trump, facing the biggest domestic political crisis of his second term, expressed frustration about ongoing questions about his administration's handling of investigative files related to Epstein's criminal charges and his 2019 death in prison."You make it a very big thing over something that's not a big thing," Trump told reporters in Scotland, urging them to focus on other prominent Americans with ties to Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton."Talk about Clinton. Talk about the former president of Harvard. Talk about all of his friends. Talk about the hedge fund guys that were with him all the time. Don't talk about Trump," he said. "What you should be talking about is the fact that we have the greatest six months in the history of a presidency."The Epstein issue has caused a rare breach with some of Trump's most loyal Make America Great Again supporters, and majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believe the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.advertisementWhite House officials are hoping the controversy dies down while Trump is abroad, two people familiar with the matter said.DEEPEN TIESTrump will stay at his Turnberry property on Scotland's west coast this weekend, before traveling on Monday to a golf property in Aberdeen, where he will open a second 18-hole course named in honor of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. MacLeod was born and raised on a Scottish island before emigrating to the USAs he left the White House, Trump said he looked forward to meeting both Starmer and Scottish leader John Swinney, who had publicly backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election.The trip gives Trump and Starmer a chance to deepen their already warm ties, with key issues on the agenda to include ending Russia's war in Ukraine, British and U.S. sources said.The deteriorating situation in Gaza is also likely to arise. Starmer on Thursday said he would hold an emergency call with France and Germany over what he called the "unspeakable and indefensible" suffering and starvation being reported there, and called on Israel to allow aid to enter the Palestinian enclave.advertisementGaza health authorities say more than 100 people have died from starvation, most in recent weeks. Human rights groups have said mass starvation is spreading even as tons of food and other supplies sit untouched just outside the territory.Since being elected last year, Starmer has prioritized good relations with Trump, stressing the importance of Britain's defense and security alliance with the US, while working to clinch the first tariff-reduction deal with the US in May.The framework agreement reaffirmed quotas and tariff rates on British automobiles and eliminated tariffs on the UK's aerospace sector, but left steel tariffs in place.Starmer is expected to press for lower steel tariffs, but sources close to the matter said it was unclear if any breakthrough was possible during Trump's visit.Trump has described Scotland as a "very special place" and made a similar trip there in 2016 during his earlier run for the presidency, but he will not necessarily get a warm welcome.About 70% of Scots have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, while 18% have a favorable opinion, an Ipsos poll in March found.advertisementScottish police are girding for protests on Saturday in both Aberdeen and in Edinburgh, the country's capital.Trump will return to Britain from September 17-19 for a state visit hosted by King Charles. It will make Trump the first world leader in modern times to undertake two state visits to Britain. The late Queen Elizabeth hosted him at Buckingham Palace for a three-day state visit in June 2019.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
28 minutes ago
- First Post
‘They want to settle now': Trump links trade deals to peace as Thailand, Cambodia agree to talks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting. read more US President Donald Trump said Sunday he believed Thailand and Cambodia were ready to resolve their conflict following his warning that trade agreements with Washington would be on hold unless the fighting stopped. Speaking to reporters in Turnberry, Scotland before a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said, 'I spoke to both of the prime ministers, and I think by the time I got off, I think they want to settle now.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump added that he expected officials from both countries to engage in talks in the coming days. The current wave of violence began Thursday following a land mine blast that injured five Thai soldiers. Each side has accused the other of sparking the conflict. Ambassadors have been recalled, and Thailand has shut its border crossings with Cambodia. Despite growing calls for de-escalation, active fighting continued on Sunday in multiple parts of the contested region. Thailand reported one more soldier killed on Sunday, raising its death toll to 21, most of them civilians. Cambodia said it has lost 13 lives. Over 131,000 people have been displaced within Thailand, while more than 37,000 Cambodians have fled homes in three border provinces. Many border villages now lie abandoned, with schools and hospitals closed. The UN Security Council has urged ASEAN to mediate an end to the crisis, while Human Rights Watch condemned reports of cluster munitions—prohibited under international law—being used in populated zones. The group called on both governments to prioritise civilian protection. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over their 800-kilometre border have simmered for decades. While past flare-ups have generally been brief, the current escalation follows a deadly confrontation in May that led to the death of a Cambodian soldier and further strained diplomatic relations. With inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Jay Leno slams partisan late-night comedy amid Stephen Colbert fallout: ‘Why alienate half the audience?'
Jay Leno, former host of NBC's The Tonight Show, is speaking out about what he sees as a concerning shift in late-night comedy: one where partisanship has replaced universal humor, and political alignment threatens to divide audiences, according to Variety. Jay Leno said late-night hosts are 'alienating' half the audience by taking sides politically.(AP) In a recent interview with David Trulio, president of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Jay Leno lamented how modern late-night comedians 'cozy up to one side' and alienate half their viewership. He emphasized the importance of comedy as a unifying escape. He was quoted in the Variety report saying, 'People come to a comedy show to get away from things. Why shoot for just half an audience all the time?' Also read: David Letterman blasts CBS and Paramount for canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: 'Pure cowardice' Jay Leno on keeping it balanced Leno, who hosted The Tonight Show from 1992 to 2009, and again from 2010 to 2014, was known for keeping his political jokes balanced. Referencing a 2009 George Mason University study, Trulio noted Leno's jokes were nearly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Leno quipped that he got hate mail from both sides over the same joke and added, 'That's how you know you're doing it right.' He further recalled that he never discussed politics with longtime friend Rodney Dangerfield, reinforcing his belief that 'funny is funny' no matter which side one is on. When asked what advice he would give to today's comedians, Leno warned them against becoming mouthpieces for any political group. Jay added that the audience does not want to hear a lecture and said, 'Just do what is funny. Get to the joke as quickly as possible.' Leno stressed that building an inclusive audience matters more than appeasing a political base, and added, 'Why alienate one particular group? I like to bring people into the big picture.' Also read: Trey Parker humorously apologizes to Trump after WH anger over South Park's controversial episode; 'We're terribly…' Stephen Colbert-CBS controversy and fallout Leno's remarks come just as CBS announced the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has stirred up a controversy. While CBS insists the decision was purely financial, critics, including David Letterman, slammed the move as politically motivated. Tensions escalated after the network settled a $16 million lawsuit with Donald Trump, who openly celebrated Colbert's ouster, the Variety report added. Stephen Colbert responded to Trump with an expletive-laced rebuke on air. Meanwhile, several top comedians and other late-night show anchors like Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers rallied behind Colbert. Stewart and Oliver, former Daily Show colleagues, joined his recent taping as well. FAQs Why does Jay Leno think late-night comedy has become too political? Leno believes modern late-night shows often take sides politically, which alienates half the audience and undermines the universal appeal of comedy. Was Jay Leno politically neutral on The Tonight Show? Yes. A study showed he made fun of both Democrats and Republicans nearly equally, and he prided himself on receiving complaints from both sides. Did Leno comment on Stephen Colbert's show cancellation? Leno did not directly address Colbert's exit, but his comments come amid controversy surrounding CBS's decision, which many believe is politically charged. What did Colbert say after Trump celebrated his show's cancellation? Colbert responded on-air, telling Trump to 'Go f--- yourself,' escalating tensions around the show's ending.
The Hindu
28 minutes ago
- The Hindu
U.K. party threatens to 'force vote' on recognising Palestinian state
A minor opposition party in the British parliament on Sunday (July 27, 2025) threatened to bring forward legislation on recognising Palestinian statehood and "force a vote" if Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues to oppose the move. The Scottish National Party (SNP), which pushes for the independence of Scotland, said it would table a "Palestine Recognition Bill" when parliament returns after its summer recess if Starmer did not change his position. The Prime Minister has committed to recognising Palestinian statehood but said it must be part of a peace process in the Middle East. The SNP threat comes after more than 220 British MPs, including dozens from Starmer's ruling Labour party, demanded on Friday that the U.K. government follow France and recognise a Palestinian state. The call, in a letter signed by lawmakers from nine U.K. political parties, came less than 24 hours after French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country would formally do so at a U.N. meeting in September. "Unless Keir Starmer stops blocking U.K. recognition of Palestine, the SNP will introduce a Palestine Recognition Bill when Parliament returns in September and force a vote if necessary," said Stephen Flynn, SNP's leader in the U.K. parliament. "Keir Starmer must stop defending the indefensible, finally find a backbone and demand that Israel ends its war now," he added. If France formally recognises a Palestinian state it would be the first G7 country -- and the most powerful European nation to date -- to make the move. Mr. Starmer has come under rising domestic and international pressure over recognising Palestinian statehood, as opposition intensifies to the ongoing war in Gaza amid fears of mass starvation there. The U.K. leader on Saturday spoke to his French and German counterparts and outlined U.K. plans to airdrop aid to people in Gaza and evacuate sick and injured children, his office said. The SNP holds nine seats in the 650-seat UK parliament.
