At-a-glance
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Donald Trump has officially opened his new golf course in Aberdeenshire on the final day of his visit to Scotland - He also met First Minister John Swinney
- It follows a meeting and press conference with Sir Keir Starmer on Monday
- Trump cut the ribbon on a second 18-hole course at his resort in Menie
- Later on Tuesday, the President will fly back to the US on Air Force One
- During his trip he has made comments about the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Epstein conspiracy theories and his love for Scotland
Donald Trump has cut the ribbon on a new 18-hole course at his golf resort in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday.
The US President teed off in celebration of the course at Trump International Golf Links on the Menie Estate.
Trump thanked his son Eric, who he said had “worked so hard” on creating the New Course at the resort.
Eric Trump had earlier said he and the Trump International team had created an “amazing masterpiece” at the New Course.
The US President said his family had taken a “beautiful piece of land, and made it much more beautiful”.
Trump said he was looking forward to playing the course.
“We’ll play it very quickly and then I go back to DC and we put out fires all over the world,” he said.
“We did one yesterday – you know we stopped the war. We’ve stopped about five wars. That’s much more important than playing golf. As much as I like it, it’s much more important.”
Earlier, Trump met briefly with Scottish First Minister John Swinney for a one-to-one.
The First Minister talked to the President about the war in Gaza, the Scottish economy, and oil and gas taxation, and they were joined by advisors, the President’s second son, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr.
They did not discuss an exemption to tariffs for Scotch whisky on Tuesday because the leaders talked about it at length on Monday over dinner.
The First Minister told Trump that Scotland was particularly concerned about Gaza’s plight and that the president is in a unique position to move it on. On oil and gas, they agreed that the tax is too high at the moment.
The leaders spoke for just over 15 minutes before posing together for pictures in front of a US flag and the saltire of Scotland.
Swinney joined a small audience for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and Guy Kinnings, CEO of DP World Tour, said the list of illustrious guests was “validation of the appeal of golf as sport and as an industry”.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, English football coach and former player Robbie Fowler, Italian football player and manager Gianfranco Zola, and Scottish former professional footballer Jim Leighton were among other big names at the event.
It’s the fifth day of the US President’s private visit to Scotland, which has been described as a working holiday.
After meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday, Trump cut the ribbon on the 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on the Menie Estate on Tuesday.
Later, he’s expected to return to Washington on Air Force One.
Trump landed at Prestwick Airport on Friday evening and spent the weekend playing golf at his resort in Turnberry.
On Sunday, Trump briefly met European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and agreed to a trade deal setting a 15% tariff on most European Union goods. Trump said it was the “biggest deal ever made”.
On Monday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer travelled to Scotland to meet the US President.
The leaders discussed the US-UK trade deal and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Trump and Sir Keir took part in what proved to be a lengthy press conference, with the president discussing a number of topics.
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The Republican Party leader spoke of his “great love” for Scotland and said he wanted to see the nation “thrive”.
He returned to his long-running objections to wind turbines, branding them “ugly monsters” and speaking of his admiration for North Sea oil and gas.
Discussing the war in Ukraine, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Russian President Vladimir Putin and suggested he would bring forward a deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire.
The US president called Sir Sadiq Khan a “nasty person”, which prompted Sir Keir to come to the defence of his “friend” the London Mayor.
Posting on his Truth Social network, on Tuesday, the President said: “North Sea Oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom. The taxes are so high, however, that it makes no sense. They have essentially told drillers and oil companies that, ‘we don’t want you’.
“Incentivize the drillers, fast. A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people!”
Trump will visit the UK again in September for an unprecedented second state visit.
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