Donald Trump UK visit LIVE: Police swarm golf resort in Scotland in huge search

Donald Trump has taken to the golf course on the first full day of his visit to Scotland.

A major security operation surrounded the president as he started hus round at Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire.

He was seen there approximately 14 hours after he arrived in Scotland on Friday night for a five-day private visit to the country.

Trump has begun playing on the Turberry course.

Photos also show people seemingly being searched.

The US President is in the UK for four days, golfing and meeting leaders.

Donald Trump has arrived on his Turnberry course in a golf cart during his visit to Scotland.

He is expected to spend today playing golf.

A huge police presence is protecting the President while he is in the area.

Police snipers have been spotted in Scotland as local authorities safeguard the US President during his visit to the UK.

Yesterday, they were seen at Prestwick Airport to prepare for Trump's arrival, and today they are watching over his Turnberry course.

The gunmen are part of a raft of security measures in place as the US president visits the UK.

Around 5,000 people from the police and security services will be deployed.

The Ayrshire resort has been fortified with towering fences, as well as what have been described as “sniper towers,” as police prepare for protests expected during his visit.

Riflemen have also been observed on the roof of the Trump Turnberry hotel.

Access to the US consulate in Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, has reportedly been blocked since 7am due to "concerns" for consular staff.

A Stop Trump Coalition demonstration is due to start at 12pm.

The President is expected to spend his first day in the UK golfing in Ayrshire on the other side of the country

Scots have been spotted holding a banner reading: "Trump you legend."

Crowds gathered at Prestwick Airport yesterday evening as Air Force One touched down.

Excited locals also watched on as the President's motorcade traveled through local roads.

Police officers and military personnel have searched the area at the Trump Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire, as the US President begins his five-day private trip to the country.

Mr Trump drew crowds to Prestwick Airport on Friday evening as Air Force One touched down ahead of a four-day visit that will also take him to a different club his family owns in Aberdeenshire.

He is expected to spend more of today playing golf before meeting leaders over the next couple of days.

As he landed in Ayrshire on Friday, the president took questions from journalists, telling Europe to “get your act together” on immigration, which he said was “killing” the continent.

He said: "You better get your act together or you're not going to have Europe anymore. You got to get your act together.

"But you're allowing it to happen to your countries and you got to stop this horrible invasion that's happening to Europe. Immigration is killing Europe."

The President said of Keir Starmer: "I like your prime minister. He's slightly more liberal than I am... but he's a good man... he got a trade deal done. It's a good deal for the UK."

The Stop Trump Coalition has announced demonstrations in Edinburgh – near the American consulate in the Scottish capital – and another in Aberdeen in the days before his visit there.

Saturday will be the first real test of Police Scotland during the visit as it looks to control the demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as any which spring up near to the president’s course.

The force has asked for support from others around the UK to bolster officer numbers, with both organisations representing senior officers and the rank-and-file claiming there is likely to be an impact on policing across the country for the duration of the visit.

First Minister John Swinney – who is also set to meet with the president during his time in Scotland – has urged Scots to protest “peacefully and within the law”.

Donald Trump is expected to spend much of his first day in Scotland on the golf course he owns in Ayrshire.

The President has a meeting scheduled with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, and the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is understood to be travelling north of the border on Monday.

Therefore, appears to be free to play the Turnberry course on Saturday, PA reports.

The President posted on his Truth Social platform earlier this morning: "I’m in Scotland now. Many meetings planned!!!"

Mr Trump is due to meet Sir Keir Starmer and the Scottish First Minister, John Swinney.

Yesterday, he called the SNP leader a "good man".

Donald Trump has sparked controversy after refusing to rule out pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence on five federal charges for her role in facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of minors, reports the Mirror US.

The President made the shocking admission when pressed by reporters about whether he would consider using his presidential powers to free the disgraced socialite.

Trump told reporters, "I haven't thought about it, it's really something I'm allowed to do, but it's something I have not thought about."

When the reporter pressed further, asking, "But you wouldn't rule it out?" Trump continued to say he just hadn't 'thought about it.'

The explosive exchange has raised eyebrows as Trump appeared to leave the door open to potentially pardoning Maxwell, despite her conviction for her central role in Epstein's horrific crimes against young victims.

Maxwell was sentenced to two decades behind bars after being found guilty of helping the late financier recruit and groom underage girls for sexual abuse over nearly a decade.

Trump's refusal to categorically rule out clemency for the convicted sex trafficker will undoubtedly fuel intense debate about the limits of presidential pardoning power and its potential misuse.

The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to weigh whether it will step into the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, as Ghislaine Maxwell seeks to overturn her 2021 conviction for aiding Epstein in the sexual abuse of underage girls. With President Donald Trump and members of Congress already entangled in the renewed scrutiny surrounding Epstein-related files, the nation’s highest court could soon add another layer of legal drama.

Maxwell, the British socialite and longtime associate of Epstein, is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. Her legal team has petitioned the court to review the legitimacy of her conviction, arguing that errors during her trial merit reconsideration. The justices, now on their annual summer recess, are expected to decide by late September whether they will hear the case.

The appeal comes amid intensifying public and political interest in Epstein’s network and the individuals linked to him, as recently unsealed documents continue to generate headlines and controversy. If the Supreme Court grants Maxwell's petition, it could open the door to a high-profile legal battle with far-reaching implications.

Donald Trump’s luxury Scottish golf resort has been likened to an “American prison” after the former US president arrived in Ayrshire for a weekend of golf ahead of his trip to Aberdeen next week.

The Turnberry resort, which Mr Trump owns, has been fortified with towering fences and what have been described as “sniper towers,” as police prepare for protests expected during his visit.

Campaign groups have promised a “festival of resistance” over the coming days, targeting the president’s stance on issues such as climate change and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

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"Trump's UK stay sees 'sniper towers' erected over 'American prison' Scottish golf resort"

A Wall Street Journal journalist was removed from Donald Trump's press pool ahead of his weekend visit to Scotland, in what is being seen as retaliation for a recent article linking the US president to Jeffrey Epstein.

The newspaper had published claims that Trump once sent Epstein a 50th birthday letter featuring a drawing of a naked woman. The president responded by filing a $10bn lawsuit against the publication.

The reporter removed, Tarini Parti, was not involved in writing the article. However, her exclusion from the press pool marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Trump and the media.

Here's the latest from Truth Social

Donald Trump brushed off a question about Ghislaine Maxwell during his UK visit, quickly pivoting to take aim at former president Bill Clinton.

Asked by a reporter, “What are you hoping Blanche gets out of Ghislaine Maxwell?”, the US president responded: “I haven't really been following it. If you going to talk about that, talk about Clinton… don’t talk about Trump.”

Footage uploaded by The Times shows how crowds gathered to witness Trump's arrival.

At the centre of Donald Trump’s visit to the UK is a trade agreement already in effect — but still facing several thorny issues, reports Straight Arrow News.

The deal, which came into force on June 30, includes a 10% baseline tariff on British goods exported to the United States. It also sets specific quotas and exemptions for UK auto parts and aerospace equipment.

However, some parts of the agreement remain in the “commitment” phase. Among them is a pledge to scrap the 25% tariff on British steel and aluminium — tariffs that were introduced under the condition that steel exports must be “melted and poured” in the UK and not originate from China.

Another contentious issue is the UK’s digital services tax, which applies to tech giants even if they are not headquartered in Britain. The Trump administration is pushing for that tax to be removed entirely.

A protest group running the website stoptrump.org.uk has called for multiple protests in Scotland.

The stated aim of the group according to its website is to "Stop Trump Coalition is a group of campaigners across the UK determined to resist Trump and Trumpism. Our political elite is failing abjectly to provide opposition or an alternative – so it’s up to all of us."

Donald Trump has described his planned talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland as a “celebration”, insisting there is “nothing” left to resolve in the UK-US deal.

Speaking to reporters at Prestwick Airport earlier, the US president was asked to clarify what needed to be worked out during the visit, which coincides with trips to several of his golf clubs in the country.

“Can you explain,” a reporter asked, “what is missing in the UK deal that you have to work out?”

Trump replied: “Nothing. I think it’s more of a celebration than a workout. It’s a great deal for both, and we’re going to have a meeting on other things, other than the deal. The deal is concluded.”

Footage from Rapid Response 47 - the President's official X account of the White House shows how onlookers gathered to see him land in Scotland.

The Trump motorcade left Prestwick Airport and has driven along the A77 in Maybole, South Ayrshire with full security detail.

He arrived at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, escorted by a motorcade of more than two dozen vehicles.

The US president’s convoy entered the grounds at around 9:30pm, accompanied by Police Scotland vehicles and ambulance crews forming a tight security presence.

As Trump’s vehicle made its way through the entrance, it passed a small group of protestors who had gathered to voice their opposition during the president’s visit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has come under fire for “taking liberties” with Sir Keir Starmer after announcing plans to travel to Scotland to meet President Donald Trump — despite not being officially invited.

Mrs von der Leyen confirmed the surprise meeting in a social media post, claiming she and Mr Trump had a “good call” and would soon meet “to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong”.

The meeting, which appears to have been hastily arranged, is expected to focus on efforts to secure a trade deal between the United States and the European Union — America’s largest trading partner and the world’s biggest trading bloc.

Talks between Brussels and Washington have been on shaky ground in recent weeks, with negotiations reportedly swinging back and forth, much to the frustration of EU officials.

See here for the full story: EU chief accused of 'taking liberties' by 'gatecrashing' Keir Starmer's Trump meeting

Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to European nations over illegal migration, urging leaders to “get your act together” or risk losing control of the continent.

Speaking to reporters at Prestwick Airport in Scotland, the US president did not hold back, describing illegal migration as an “invasion” that is “killing Europe”.

“I mean, there’s a couple of things I could say, but on immigration, you’d better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore,” Trump said.

He claimed that under his leadership the United States had brought illegal crossings to a halt. “Last month, we (the United States) had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with (former US president Joe) Biden,” he said.

“Biden was a total stiff, and what he allowed to happen…. but you’re allowing it to happen to your countries, and you’ve got to stop this horrible invasion that’s happening to Europe; many countries in Europe.”

Trump praised some unnamed European leaders for their handling of the crisis, adding: “Some people, some leaders, have not let it happen, and they’re not getting the proper credit they should. I could name them to you right now, but I’m not going to embarrass the other ones.”

He concluded: “But stop: this immigration is killing Europe.”