Trump Golfs in Scotland Amid Protests and Epstein Controversy

U.S. President Donald Trump maintained a low profile at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland on Saturday as protests erupted and questions about his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced. Trump arrived Friday for a visit that includes stops at his Scottish golf properties and meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Scottish leader John Swinney, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Von der Leyen is expected to meet Trump on Sunday in Scotland, with officials expressing cautious optimism about advancing a potential U.S.-EU trade framework. Trump described her as a “highly respected woman” and plans to also visit his course near Aberdeen, which he named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.

The trip has sparked demonstrations in Edinburgh, where hundreds of protesters carried “NOT MY PRESIDENT” signs and banners linking Trump to Epstein. Many also expressed anger over U.S. policies on Gaza amid ongoing conflict. Local residents criticized Trump for leveraging his mother’s Scottish heritage to boost his business and political profile.

The Epstein controversy, stemming from the financier’s 2019 prison suicide and past associations with Trump, continues to shadow the president despite his attempts to dismiss it. “You make it a very big thing over something that’s not a big thing,” Trump told reporters.

During his Scotland stay, Trump is golfing with his son Eric Trump and U.S. ambassador to Britain Warren Stephens. The White House hopes the president’s time out of the spotlight will ease tensions ahead of Sunday’s high-stakes diplomatic talks.

Trump purchased the Turnberry resort in 2014 for $60 million, aspiring to restore it to the Open Championship rotation, though it has not hosted the event since 2009 due to logistical concerns.