Why is Trump in Scotland and why has his visit sparked backlash? Local paper's front-page viral

President Donald Trump landed in Scotland for his first trip to the UK since being elected in 2024

Updated on: Jul 26, 2025 3:54 AM IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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President Donald Trump landed in Scotland for his first trip to the UK since being elected in 2024. The 79-year-old will meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

President Donald Trump gestures after disembarking Marine One, as he departs for Scotland, at Joint Base Andrews (REUTERS)

The president said he will ‘work on a deal’ with the EU chief. Trump further added that he will ask Europe to get its ‘act together’ on immigration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the five-day trip would be a ‘working visit that will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer to refine the historic US-UK trade deal’.

Why Donald Trump is in Scotland

According to the White House, Trump and British PM Keir Starmer are expected to continue trade talks days after the two parties reached an agreement on the Liberation Day tariffs. The UK, the US's ninth-largest trade partner, originally faced a 10% baseline tariff, but the deal lowered rates on automobiles and steel.

The president is also expected to visit his golf courses in Scotland: Trump Turnberry and Trump International Scotland. His trip comes ahead of the opening of a second golf course at the Trump International Scotland resort.

The National's front page viral

Ahead of President Trump's visit, local paper The National ran a controversial front-page story. "Convicted US Felon to Arrive in Scotland," the headline read.

Trump is a felon. He was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in May 2024.

The president went to Scotland to play his Turnberry course during his first term in 2018 while en route to a meeting in Finland with Russian President Vladimir Putin. But this trip comes as the new golf course is already actively selling tee times.

Why Trump is facing backlash for his Scotland visit

“We’re at a point where the Trump administration is so intertwined with the Trump business that he doesn’t seem to see much of a difference,” said Jordan Libowitz, vice president for the ethics watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “It’s as if the White House were almost an arm of the Trump Organization.”

Several protest groups in Scotland are expected to hold demonstrations during Trump's visit. Police Scotland is expected to deploy thousands of officers during Trump’s visit, according to PA Media.

(With AP inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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