• Trump's Scotland visit combines golf and meetings with political leaders amidst protests.
• He plans to discuss trade relations with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• The visit has ignited significant protests across the UK, criticizing Trump and local leaders.
• Trump played golf at his Turnberry resort, a significant location in his business portfolio.
• The new golf course at Menie is set to open during his visit, further intertwining his business interests with diplomatic activities.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday evening for a four-day visit that merges golf, personal business interests, and political diplomacy. During his stay, Trump is expected to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade agreements while also focusing on the opening of a new golf course named after his mother in Aberdeenshire, scheduled for Tuesday. The visit has raised eyebrows as Trump is utilizing taxpayer resources for both family business and diplomatic discussions, leading critics to question the ethics of his overlapping interests, according to CBS News.

On Saturday, Trump played golf at his Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire, surrounded by heightened security measures which included closed roads, police checkpoints, and even snipers on standby. Despite the serene setting, hundreds of protesters gathered in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, voicing their disdain for the president and the recent trade agreements made by local leaders, which they view as capitulating to American pressure. Many demonstrators held signs that condemned Trump, with some linking him to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting the far-reaching implications of his administration's foreign policies, as reported by BBC News and HuffPost.

During his golf outing, Trump was accompanied by his son Eric and the US Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens. While he enjoyed his time on the course, the media attention was drawn away from him by ongoing protests which criticized both his visit and the actions of Prime Minister Starmer regarding tariffs on British goods. These tariffs have been a contentious point, particularly as they address the potential for a 30% levy on EU imports if agreements are not reached, indicating the fragile nature of US-UK trade relations, according to Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

In a public statement, Trump emphasized the importance of his discussions with European leaders, claiming that they are "keen to make a deal." He acknowledged the personal significance of his trip, stemming from his mother's Scottish roots, but simultaneously faced backlash from segments of the Scottish population who align with various social causes against his administration's policies. The ongoing scrutiny into Trump's ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has also contributed to public sentiment against him during this visit, making it a multifaceted political event, as noted by Reuters and LA Times.