Donald Trump’s four-day, taxpayer-funded family visit to Scotland just got a lot more bumpy. So far on his trip he’s met with European leaders, including new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The former U.S. President arrived at his family-owned Turnberry golf resort, where he spent the night before engaging in discussions on crucial issues such as immigration and trade.
Sadly, during his visit, Trump’s contempt for Europe was directed toward the European leaders. He tore into them on everything from their management of immigration policy to the proliferation of wind turbines across the continent. He cautioned that Europe may be soon confronted with grave dangers if the leaders fail to act on these matters in good time.
“On immigration, you better get your act together. You’re not going to have Europe any more.” – Donald Trump
Trump criticized the aesthetic impact of wind turbines, stating, “Stop the windmills. You’re ruining your countries. I really mean it, it’s so sad. You fly over and you see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds.”
Trump’s visit has already triggered a huge security operation in the UK. It will be the biggest security operation since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. More than 5,000 police and security staff are now on active duty protecting his visit to Scotland. They’ve put in place extreme security precautions, including tall chain link fences with barbed wire around the golf course and navy ships patrolling the adjacent coastline.
The ex-Commander in chief has been the victim of escalating dangers to his life. A year ago, he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, a serious fact, no doubt, contributing to the heavy security surrounding this visit.
This is bedeviled by the fact that Trump’s hearings with Starmer are on Monday. He is further counting on clinching a major deal on pharmaceuticals with von der Leyen. The tentative agreement would establish a 15% rate for pharmaceutical exports. According to Trump, it has a “good 50-50” chance of succeeding.
“Well, I don’t want to tell you what the sticking points are.” – Donald Trump
That’s precisely why Trump decided to go all-in with his surprise decision to skip his media availability. Instead, he sailed to his favorite coastal links for 18 holes. He’s big on personal space on this visit. Simultaneously, he expertly walks the tightrope of public and political advocacy.
As Trump continues his family trip, he remains focused on fostering relationships with key European figures and addressing critical issues that could shape future U.S.-EU relations.