Demonstrators maintain placards throughout a ‘Cease Trump Coalition’ protest close to the US Consulate constructing in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump landed in Scotland on July 25, for a five-day go to set to combine diplomacy, enterprise, and leisure. (Photograph by SCOTT HEPPELL / AFP)
WASHINGTON, United States — US President Donald Trump performed golf below tight safety on the primary full day of a go to to Scotland Saturday, as tons of of protesters took to the streets in main cities.
Trump performed at his Turnberry resort on the southwest coast of Scotland with son Eric and the US ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, waving to photographers. He arrived in his mom’s start nation on Friday night.
His presence has turned the picturesque and usually quiet space right into a digital fortress, with roads closed and police checkpoints in place.
Cops — some on quad bikes and others on foot with sniffer canine — patrolled the well-known course and the sandy seashores and grass dunes that flank it.
Secret Service snipers had been positioned at vantage factors whereas another golfers on the course had been patted down by safety personnel.
The 79-year-old Trump touched down Friday at close by Prestwick Airport as tons of of onlookers got here out to see Air Pressure One and catch a glimpse of its well-known passenger.
READ: Scotland awaits well-known son as Trump visits mom’s homeland
‘Get your act collectively’
The president has professed a love of Scotland, however his controversial politics and enterprise investments within the nation have made for an uneasy relationship.
Talking to reporters on the tarmac, Trump instantly waded into the controversy surrounding excessive ranges of irregular migration, and lashed out at renewable vitality efforts.
“You higher get your act collectively otherwise you’re not going to have Europe anymore,” he stated, including that migration was “killing” the continent.
“Cease the windmills. You’re ruining your nations,” he added.
Trump’s five-day go to, which is ready to combine leisure with enterprise and diplomacy, has divided the area people.
Over on the east coast, a number of hundred protesters demonstrated outdoors the US consulate within the capital Edinburgh and additional north within the metropolis of Aberdeen, close to the place Trump owns one other golf resort.
The protests had been organised by the Cease Trump Coalition, which has referred to as on Scotland’s First Minister to not attend a scheduled assembly with Trump.
Contributors held placards with slogans like “Scotland hates Trump” and waved Palestinian flags.
“I’m right here due to fascism in America below Trump’s rule. I’m right here due to genocide in Gaza that’s being funded and enabled by British and American governments,” stated 44-year-old Amy Hanlon in Aberdeen.
No demonstrations might be seen close to Turnberry.
Commerce talks
Not everybody was towards his go to.
At Prestwick Airport on Friday night a boy held an indication that learn “Welcome Trump” whereas a person waved a flag emblazoned with Trump’s most well-known slogan — “Make America Nice Once more.”
“I believe one of the best factor about Trump is he’s not really a politician but he’s essentially the most highly effective man on this planet and I believe he’s taking a look at one of the best pursuits of his personal nation,” stated 46-year-old Lee McLean, who had travelled from close by Kilmarnock.
“Most politicians ought to actually be taking a look at one of the best pursuits of their very own nation first earlier than trying abroad,” he advised AFP.
Trump had no public occasions scheduled for Saturday, however he posted on his Fact Social community to say he was speaking with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand in a bid to finish their border battle that has left a minimum of 33 individuals useless.
Trump is because of focus on commerce with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry on Sunday.
He’s additionally resulting from meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, earlier than heading to Balmedie in Aberdeenshire the place he’s anticipated to open a brand new golf course at his resort there.
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Trump is scheduled to return to the US on Tuesday however might be again within the UK for a state go to between 17-19 September, when he might be hosted by King Charles III.
