Donald Trump’s Scotland tour is no vacation — Here’s what he’s really planning behind closed doors

Donald Trump is set to visit Scotland on Friday, July 25, 2025, will begin his first trip to the UK since winning a second presidential term. Though officially classified as a private visit, the itinerary reflects a blend of personal heritage, business engagements and diplomatic meetings. Stops include his two major golf properties Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire and Turnberry in South Ayrshire. Meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney are also scheduled, despite the visit’s private designation. Trump is expected to return for an official state visit later in September.

Focus on golf ventures amid public pushback

Trump's ongoing presence in Scotland is significantly shaped by his investments in golf. Trump International Golf Links, acquired in 2006, was developed on an ecologically sensitive coastal site despite protests. The project faced resistance from environmentalists and residents, especially after a local landowner, Michael Forbes, refused Trump’s offer to sell his property.

Although the resort opened in 2012, key plans like a 450-room hotel and 500 homes have yet to be realized. Financial returns have also been underwhelming, with a £1.4 million loss recorded in 2023. Still, Trump has maintained a personal connection to the project, stating, “If it weren’t for my mother, would I have walked away from this site? I think probably I would have.”

A new 18-hole course named the MacLeod Course, after his mother Mary Anne MacLeod, is set to open this year, alongside the Trump MacLeod House and Lodge Hotel.

Turnberry, purchased in 2014 for £40 million, has seen a more positive local reception. Known for hosting The Open Championship, the course hasn’t held the event since 2009. While Trump has lobbied for its return, logistical concerns from organisers remain a hurdle.

A Scottish childhood remembered in short visits

Trump’s ties to Scotland are rooted in family history. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Lewis and emigrated to the US in 1930. She married Fred Trump in 1936, settled in Queens, and became a US citizen in 1942. Despite building her life in America, she remained connected to her homeland, visiting frequently and maintaining ties with extended family. Three of Trump’s cousins still live on Lewis, including in the house where she was born now rebuilt.

Trump has only visited his mother’s birthplace twice, including a brief 97-second visit to the family home in 2008. “My mother was born in Scotland—Stornoway, which is serious Scotland,” he once said.

Political relationships in Scotland: From welcome to reversal

Trump’s evolving relationship with Scottish authorities reflects broader political shifts. Once recognised as a business ambassador through the GlobalScot network and awarded an honorary degree, both titles were revoked in 2015 following his controversial policies.

Now, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, who had earlier supported Kamala Harris, will meet Trump despite calling his endorsement of Trump “an insult.” Swinney stated the meeting aligns with “Scotland’s interest.”

Meanwhile, Trump has expressed appreciation for PM Keir Starmer, saying, “I really like the prime minister a lot, even though he’s a liberal.” Their meeting is expected to include trade discussions, notably over UK steel tariffs.

There’s no confirmation yet on whether either leader will accompany Trump to his golf courses Starmer is not known to play golf.

Trump’s upcoming visit underscores the multifaceted nature of his connection to Scotland part ancestral, part entrepreneurial, and now, part diplomatic. As protests loom and political relationships recalibrate, the trip reflects both continuity and complexity in Trump’s ongoing presence in the UK.

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