Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and bilateral talks as EU trade deal nears

U.S. President Donald Trump, dogged by questions astir his ties to disgraced financier and enactment offender Jeffrey Epstein, arrived successful Scotland connected Friday for immoderate play and bilateral talks that could output a trade woody with the European Union.

Trump told reporters upon his accomplishment that helium volition sojourn his 2 play properties successful Scotland and conscionable with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom helium called a "highly respected woman."

As hundreds of onlookers cheered his arrival, Trump reiterated his earlier remark astir a 50-50 accidental of securing a deal with the EU, adding that it would beryllium his administration's largest commercialized statement frankincense far, if it came together.

However, helium said determination were inactive "sticking points" with Brussels connected "maybe 20 antithetic things."

Trump said his gathering with Starmer would beryllium much of a solemnisation of the trade deal already reached than continued enactment connected it, adding, "It's a large woody for both." Before helium near Washington, Trump stated that his medication was moving diligently connected a imaginable commercialized woody with the EU, and Brussels was anxious to finalize a deal. Von der Leyen said aboriginal she would conscionable Trump successful Scotland connected Sunday.

EU diplomats accidental a woody could effect successful a 15% tariff connected EU goods, mirroring a model accord with Japan reached this week and fractional of the 30% Trump is threatening to enforce by Aug. 1.

Trump has sought to reorder the planetary system aft imposing a 10% tariff connected astir each trading partners successful April and threatening sharply higher rates for galore countries to footwear successful a week from now. Trump says the moves volition trim the U.S. commercialized shortage and make further revenue, but economists pass that the caller commercialized policies could thrust up inflation.

Trump, facing the biggest home governmental situation of his 2nd term, expressed vexation astir ongoing questions astir his administration's handling of investigative files related to Epstein's transgression charges and his 2019 decease successful prison.

"You marque it a precise large happening implicit thing that's not a large thing," Trump told reporters successful Scotland, urging them to absorption connected different salient Americans with ties to Epstein, including erstwhile President Bill Clinton.

"Talk astir Clinton. Talk astir the erstwhile president of Harvard. Talk astir each of his friends. Talk astir the hedge money guys that were with him each the time. Don't speech astir Trump," helium said. "What you should beryllium talking astir is the information that we person the top six months successful the past of a presidency."

The Epstein contented has caused a uncommon breach with immoderate of Trump's astir loyal Make America Great Again supporters, and majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans accidental they judge the authorities is hiding details connected the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.

White House officials are hoping the contention dies down portion Trump is abroad, 2 radical acquainted with the substance said.

Trump volition enactment astatine his Turnberry spot connected Scotland's westbound seashore this weekend, earlier traveling connected Monday to a play spot successful Aberdeen, wherever helium volition unfastened a 2nd 18-hole people named successful grant of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod. MacLeod was calved and raised connected a Scottish land earlier emigrating to the U.S.

As helium near the White House, Trump said helium looked guardant to gathering some Starmer and Scottish person John Swinney, who had publically backed Democratic campaigner Kamala Harris successful the 2024 U.S. statesmanlike election. The travel provides Trump and Starmer with an accidental to fortify their already lukewarm ties, with cardinal issues connected the agenda, including ending Russia's warfare successful Ukraine, according to British and U.S. sources. The deteriorating concern successful Gaza is besides apt to travel up. Starmer connected Thursday said helium would clasp an exigency telephone with France and Germany implicit what helium called the "unspeakable and indefensible" suffering and starvation being reported there, and called connected Israel to let assistance to participate the Palestinian enclave.

Gaza wellness authorities accidental much than 100 radical person died from starvation, astir successful caller weeks. Human rights groups person said wide starvation is spreading adjacent arsenic tons of nutrient and different supplies beryllium untouched conscionable extracurricular the territory. Since being elected past year, Starmer has prioritized bully relations with Trump, stressing the value of Britain's defence and information confederation with the U.S., portion moving to clinch the archetypal tariff-reduction woody with the U.S. successful May.

The model statement reaffirmed quotas and tariff rates connected British automobiles and eliminated tariffs connected the UK's aerospace sector, but near alloy tariffs successful place.

Starmer is expected to property for little alloy tariffs, but sources adjacent to the substance said it was unclear if immoderate breakthrough was imaginable during Trump's visit.

Trump has described Scotland arsenic a "very peculiar place" and made a akin travel determination successful 2016 during his earlier statesmanlike run, but helium volition not needfully person a lukewarm welcome. About 70% of Scots clasp an unfavorable sentiment of Trump, portion 18% person a favorable opinion, according to an Ipsos canvass conducted successful March.

Scottish constabulary are gearing up for protests connected Saturday successful some Aberdeen and Edinburgh, the country's capital.

Trump volition instrumentality to Britain from Sept. 17-19 for a authorities sojourn hosted by King Charles. It volition marque Trump the archetypal satellite person successful modern times to undertake 2 authorities visits to the United Kingdom. The precocious Queen Elizabeth hosted him astatine Buckingham Palace for a three-day authorities sojourn successful June 2019.