Donald Trump holds court as Sir Keir Starmer heads to Turnberry for talks

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will hold talks with US president Donald Trump in Scotland today as protesters hope to take part in a noisy demonstration nearby.

The meeting will take place after the US and the European Union struck a “huge” trade deal following crunch talks between Mr Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, at Turnberry in Ayrshire. The agreement will see a blanket tariff of 15 per cent on all EU goods imported to the US.

Downing Street said Sir Keir and the US President will meet “one-on-one” at Turnberry before they are expected to travel to a private engagement at Trump International in Menie.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Mr Trump said they will discuss “a lot of things”, including Gaza and the separate trade deal between the UK and the US, which was agreed in May. “We have our trade deal and it’s been a great deal,” he said.

“It’s good for us. It’s good for them and good for us. I think the UK is very happy, they’ve been trying for 12 years to get it and they got it, and it’s a great trade deal for both, works out very well.

“We’ll be discussing that. I think we’re going to be discussing a lot about Israel. They’re very much involved in terms of wanting something to happen. He’s doing a very good job, by the way.”

US President Donald Trump waves as he plays golf at his Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire | PA

First Minister John Swinney is due to meet Mr Trump on Tuesday. Mr Swinney said the meeting “presents a significant opportunity to speak up for the issues that matter to people in Scotland on the highest platform”.

He added: “Global, humanitarian issues are rightly at the forefront of many people’s minds. It is of utmost importance that we discuss what action can be taken to end the horrific suffering we are witnessing around the world, particularly the unimaginable hardship being endured by people in Gaza and the need for an urgent ceasefire.

“I also intend to raise the barbaric war in Ukraine and discuss how we can work to bring an end to the conflict that has caused so much destruction to lives and livelihoods.

“Both the US President and I share a fundamental desire to build peace across the world and to end the suffering endured by so many. I hope that our discussion helps to further that aim.”

Protesters said a “festival of resistance” will be held today at The White Horse Inn, Balmedie, near Trump International, with organisers objecting to the golf course receiving £180,000 of public funding for the Nexo Championship next month.

Alena Ivanova, organiser of Stop Trump Scotland, said: “As Donald Trump is expected to arrive at his Aberdeenshire golf course, residents and protesters are gathering in Balmedie from 3pm to continue the festival of resistance.

“This message is to Donald Trump but also our elected leaders preparing to meet him: there is no place for Trumpism in Scotland. They need to stand up to him instead of kowtowing to this bully – including by handing over hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money for a golf tournament hosted at Trump International even while he attempts to bully us with tariffs.

“In the vicinity of the golf course people will be making noise and using creative props to bring the message as close to home as possible – Donald Trump is not welcome here.”

Mr Swinney announced the public funding for the Nexo Championship on Saturday, with critics comparing it to “offering up pocket money to the school bully”.

Speaking to journalists at Turnberry on Sunday, Mr Trump said a trade agreement between the US and the EU would be “bigger than any other deal”.

He also renewed his attack on wind turbines, which he said are “killing” the natural beauty of Scotland and Europe.

“We will not allow a windmill to be built in the United States,” Mr Trump said. “They are killing us. They are killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful plains - and I’m not talking about airplanes, I’m talking about beautiful plains, beautiful areas in the United States and you look up and you see windmills all over the place.”

He said wind “doesn’t work”, adding: “Today I’m playing the best course, I think, in the world - Turnberry. Even though I own it, it’s probably the best course in the world, right? And I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills at the end of the 18th. I said, ‘Isn’t that a shame. What a shame.’

“You have the same thing all over Europe, in particular. You have windmills all over the place.”

Number 10 said the strength of the UK-US relationship “will be on display” as the Prime Minister meets Mr Trump for “wide-ranging talks”.

A spokeswoman said: “Over the course of the visit, the leaders are expected to talk one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark economic prosperity deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries.

“The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the President’s administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long.

“Securing peace in Ukraine will also be high on the agenda, with the Prime Minister and President set to talk about their shared desire to bring an end to the barbaric war. It is expected they will reflect on progress in their 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table.

“After their meeting they will travel on together to a private engagement in Aberdeen. The UK and the US have one of the closest, most productive alliances the world has ever seen, working together to cooperate on defence, intelligence, technology and trade.

“The UK was the first country to agree a deal with the US that lowered tariffs on key sectors and has received one of the lowest reciprocal tariff rates in the world. Businesses in the aerospace and autos sectors are already benefitting from the strong relationship the UK has with the US and the deal agreed on 8 May.

“The Government is working at pace with the US to go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic and to give UK industry the security it needs, protect vital jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets through the plan for change.”

Mr Trump spent time on Sunday playing golf at his Turnberry course, where he was welcomed by supporters who urged him “don’t trust Starmer”.

The Republican leader arrived on the greens around 11am and played golf with his son, Eric. Police were seen patrolling the course as associates played earlier in the morning before a huge motorcade of golf caddies arrived around 10.40am.