A White House official has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will visit his Turnberry and Aberdeen golf resorts in Scotland from July 25–29, echoing a similar trip he made during his 2016 campaign.
When asked by reporters about his upcoming trip, Trump confirmed plans to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer, likely in Aberdeen. The two leaders previously struck a deal on June 16 at the G7 Summit in Canada, reaffirming quotas and tariff rates on British cars and removing tariffs on UK aerospace, but trade issues over steel and aluminium remain unresolved.
“We’re going to meet, probably in Aberdeen, and refine the trade deal we made,” Trump said.
Trump last visited both his Scottish golf resorts during his 2016 campaign, praising Britain’s Brexit vote. At Turnberry, where the Open Championship was last held in 2009, he was famously accompanied by kilted bagpipers.
This visit will be his first since 2023, when he broke ground on a new 18-hole course at his Menie estate, dedicated to his mother, who was born on the Isle of Lewis.
Trump will come back to the UK for a state visit this autumn, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. He will be hosted by the King at Windsor Castle from 17 to 19 September, an honour rarely extended to second-term presidents, who are typically invited for a more informal meeting, such as tea or lunch with the monarch. He was previously welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II during his first state visit in 2019. According to the sources, US Vice President JD Vance is going to the Cotswolds after Trump’s visit to Scotland.
Thousands of officers deployed for US President’s visit
During his visit, President Trump is also expected to hold informal talks with Scottish First Minister John Swinney.
Police Scotland began preparations earlier this month, with thousands of officers expected to be deployed. However, the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents frontline officers, has raised concerns over excessive working hours and breaches of workforce agreements. SPF General Secretary David Kennedy said some officers are scheduled to work over 12 hours a day for up to 10 consecutive days. The federation is now considering legal action against Police Scotland. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said the force is working with the SPF to address these concerns.
Trump’s last presidential visit in 2018 drew widespread protests in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Protests are once again planned for this week, with demonstrations set to take place in Aberdeen and Edinburgh on July 26.
Security challenges have also emerged in the past—during a previous visit, a paraglider breached a no-fly zone over Trump Turnberry with a banner reading "Trump: well below par." In 2016, the late comedian Janey Godley joined protesters at the resort. More recently, Turnberry has been targeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
To manage the scale of the operation, Police Scotland is expected to request support from other UK forces under mutual aid agreements.
