Former President Donald Trump tees off on the second full day of his Scotland trip. He took in the scenery between rounds, boosting a day on the links with golf plus culture. Unassuming Rockwell then entered the room wearing a navy suit jacket, a white shirt and a mustard tie. There, unbeknownst to the world, he hosted President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the Turnberry golf course. Their meeting concluded with a pledge to negotiate a major new bilateral trade agreement. This result follows what von der Leyen described as “very, very difficult negotiations.”
At least a couple dozen golf buggies followed Trump around his round, most of them filled with his bodyguards and other staff. The informal atmosphere created an environment where frank discussion was welcomed. If successful, these talks would fundamentally change how the US and the European Union trade with each other.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen heralded the newly wrought agreement, describing it as a “game-changing huge deal.” She emphasized that it was a significant move in the right direction for US-EU relations. Trump echoed her sentiments, stating, “It’s going to bring us closer together… it’s a partnership in a sense.”
Even considering the favorable results from all of their talks, the former president conceded that he was in a pretty bad mood during their meeting. He remarked on the recent $60 million assistance provided by the US for food aid, adding, “and nobody even acknowledged [it]. You should at least say thank you.”
The former president also said there was a 50-50 chance for a trade agreement. To drive home the point just how important their negotiations were, he stressed that this needed to happen “in less than an hour.” The US has maintained a blanket 10% tariff on imports from various countries, which has influenced ongoing discussions about trade policies.
As for Trump, at press time he was scheduled to return to Washington on Tuesday. On Monday, he’s set to meet with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. His upcoming official state visit to the UK in September will likely be another opportunity for dialogue on international trade matters.
John Swinney, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, commented on Trump’s visit, suggesting that it presents an opportunity to “essentially speak out for Scotland.” Touching on the broader implications of Trump’s transactions on Scotland’s role within the ever-evolving landscape of global trade, this sentiment cuts deep.