Trump visits Scotland to open golf course during presidency

July 25, 2025 – 9:16 AM

President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland this week for a five-day visit that combines international diplomacy with the grand opening of a new Trump-branded golf course. The trip highlights the ongoing concerns about the intersection between Trump’s political role and his private business dealings.

What brought Trump to Scotland?

President Trump landed in Scotland on Friday to meet with top European leaders and attend the ribbon-cutting of a new golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. The visit includes scheduled talks with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The new course, set to officially open on August 13, marks another expansion of the Trump Organization’s global golf portfolio. Trump, who is now serving his second term as president at age 79, has long maintained personal and business ties to Scotland.

Trump has previously called the Scottish coastline “one of the most beautiful places in the world,” and referenced the project during his 2023 New York civil fraud trial. His son Eric Trump, who manages day-to-day operations of the Trump Organization, is expected to lead the course’s opening ceremony.

Official visit or business promotion?

While the White House described the trip as a “working visit,” critics argue it blurs the line between public service and private gain. The president will also visit another Trump golf property in Turnberry, about 200 miles south of Balmedie.

“President Trump has built some of the world’s most prestigious golf courses, which continue to host major events,” said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers.

However, ethics groups have raised red flags. Jordan Libowitz, vice president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), remarked, “It’s hard to distinguish where the Trump administration ends and the Trump Organization begins.”

During his first term, Trump pledged that his company would not engage in foreign business deals. That pledge has since expired. Although his assets remain in a trust, Trump’s adult children now manage the company’s business operations — including deals in countries like Qatar and Vietnam, which currently hold active trade discussions with the U.S.

Legal and ethical concerns resurface

The Aberdeenshire golf project has a complicated history. Trump International Scotland was built on a site that conservation authorities say harmed protected sand dunes. Financial struggles have dogged the resort since its launch, and legal battles over nearby wind farm development resulted in court-ordered payments to the Scottish government.

This property was also cited in Trump’s 2023 civil fraud trial in New York. Prosecutors claimed Trump exaggerated the value of potential developments on the land to secure loans. Although planning approval was granted for 500 homes, Trump allegedly told lenders the land could support 2,500 — a key part of the case that led to a $355 million judgment against him.

That fine has since increased to over $510 million with interest. Trump is currently appealing the ruling.

Trump’s golf diplomacy in global context

This is not the first time a sitting U.S. president has mixed diplomacy with golf in Scotland. Trump previously visited Turnberry in 2018 on the way to a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland.

Other presidents have done the same. Dwight D. Eisenhower played in Turnberry in 1959, and George W. Bush visited Gleneagles in 2005. American presidents have a long tradition of golfing — a pastime historically rooted in Scotland.

Historians trace the origins of golf back to 15th-century Scotland, when it was famously banned by Parliament for distracting young men from archery practice.

The presidential relationship with golf

Many American presidents have embraced the sport, using golf as a way to unwind and connect with allies. William Howard Taft was the first to play frequently, while Woodrow Wilson even teed off in snowy weather with red-painted golf balls. Warren Harding trained his dog to retrieve golf balls, and Lyndon Johnson famously kept a club in hand while issuing commands on the course.

John F. Kennedy was an expert golfer during his college years and nearly scored a hole-in-one at Cypress Point. Barack Obama added a golf simulator to the White House, which Trump later upgraded. Bill Clinton restored the putting green, further cementing the sport’s place in presidential history.

Trump, who claims a handicap of 2.5, is known for his confidence on the course. However, he hasn’t posted an official score with the U.S. Golf Association since 2021. President Joe Biden reportedly has a handicap of 6.7, while Barack Obama’s is estimated at 13.

Why this matters

Trump’s visit to Scotland — while framed as a diplomatic mission — underscores ongoing concerns about transparency, ethics, and the mixing of personal business with public office. While presidential visits abroad often carry political weight, critics warn that using such trips to spotlight family-owned properties risks undermining trust in government institutions.

As Trump continues to act both as commander-in-chief and brand ambassador for his global business ventures, watchdogs and the media will continue to question where the presidency ends — and where the Trump Organization begins.

Source AP News – Trump’s trip to Scotland as his new golf course opens blurs politics and the family’s business