Trump in Scotland: US President Donald Trump arrives in Scotland ahead of meetings with Starmer and Swinney

At-a-glance

US President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday night for a five-day private visit
The president was met by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray as he disembarked
The visit is expected to include meetings with PM Sir Keir Starmer and FM John Swinney
Trump will split his time between his golf resorts at Turnberry and Menie
Police Scotland has launched a major security operation, with road closures and extended shifts for officers across Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire
Demonstrations are expected in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and near Trump’s golf courses
The visit comes amid renewed scrutiny over Trump’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, fuelling conspiracy theories in far-right circles
Trump said he would meet Starmer on Friday night to ‘do a little celebrating’ and discuss the US-UK trade deal
He also confirmed he would meet with the Scottish First Minister who he said was ‘a good man’

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Scotland to begin a five-day visit.

The visit is officially private, rather than presidential, but Trump is expected to meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney while he’s in Scotland.

Air Force One – the presidential aeroplane – was in the air for approximately seven hours before touching down at Prestwick Airport at around 8.30pm on Friday.

The US president was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray as he walked off Air Force One at Prestwick.

After disembarking from the aircraft, the president told reporters that it was “great to be in Scotland.”

He left Prestwick Airport in his motorcade at about 8.50pm on Friday, bound for his golf course at Turnberry on the west coast of Scotland, south of Ayr.

Mr Trump spent around five minutes speaking to journalists before leaving in his armoured car known as The Beast.

European countries need to “get your act together” on migration, and “stop the windmills”, Donald Trump said as he arrived in Scotland.

Asked by reporters at Prestwick Airport for his advice to European leaders on reducing immigration, the US president said: “I say two things to Europe: Stop the windmills. You’re ruining your countries. I really mean it, it’s so sad.

“You fly over and you see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds, and if they’re stuck in the ocean, ruining your oceans.

“Stop the windmills, and also, I mean, there’s a couple of things I could say, but on immigration, you’d better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore.”

Donald Trump also praised Sir Keir Starmer as “a good man” and confirmed they will be meeting on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters as he arrived in Scotland, the US president said: “I like your Prime Minister, he’s slightly more liberal than I am – as you probably heard – but he’s a good man. He got a trade deal done.

“You know, they’ve been working on this deal for 12 years, he got it done – that’s a good deal, it’s a good deal for the UK.”

Mr Trump added: “I’ll be seeing him tomorrow, I guess tomorrow evening”.

Crowds gathered at the perimeter of Prestwick Airport to catch a glimpse of Air Force One on Friday evening, and there was a major police presence around the airport.

Standing on the White House lawn before boarding Air Force One, Trump said he would be meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday night after he lands in Scotland.

“We’re also going to do a little celebrating together because we get along very well”, he said.

“The UK has been trying to make a deal with us for like 12 years and hasn’t been able to do it, and we got it done. [Starmer] is doing a very good job, he’s a good Prime Minister, and a good guy. We’re going to meet at Turnberry and Aberdeen.”

The President also confirmed that he would be meeting with Swinney during the visit.

Explainer

What should we expect from Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland?

Massive security operation in place as US President set to touch down at Prestwick Airport on Friday evening.

Trump said he had a “lot of love” for Scotland, and called the Scottish leader a “good man”.

“I look forward to meeting him,” Trump said.

On Thursday, Murray said the UK will extend a “warm welcome” to the President. It comes as Trump seeks to downplay his previous connections with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

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Trump’s Scotland visit is ‘distraction’ from Epstein association, says professor

The White House has downplayed reports the President’s name appears in Justice Department files about the pedophile.

The Epstein case feeds into far-right conspiracy theories about child abuse rings formed of members of the global elite, propagated by some of the President’s closest allies.

Tight security measures are in place ahead of the visit, including road closures and restrictions in and around Turnberry, Maidens, and Prestwick Airport.

Glasgow & West

What are the restrictions and road closures as Trump visits Scotland?

Tight security is in place ahead of the President’s visit.

A deer was euthanised on Friday morning after it was knocked down by a police vehicle at Donald Trump’s golf course in Aberdeenshire ahead of the US President’s arrival.

New Arc Wildlife Rescue said it was called to Trump International Golf Links at around 5.30am on Friday.

Due to the animal’s injuries, it had to be euthanised at the scene.

Trump’s visit is also set to spark protests across the country over the weekend.

The Stop Trump Coalition is organising events in Aberdeen city centre and outside the US consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday – similar gatherings during Trump’s visit to Scotland in 2018 attracted thousands of demonstrators.

Protests are also expected around Trump’s golf courses at Turnberry and Menie.

First Minister John Swinney has urged protesters to express their views “peacefully and lawfully”.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Sunday.

Ms von der Leyen made the announcement on X, saying: “Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.”