Trump golf diplomacy took center stage on Friday as President Donald Trump landed in Scotland. He arrived ahead of the August 13 opening of a new golf course built by his family business.
Trump described the northeastern dunes of Scotland as one of his favorite places. He once said he might retire there. Now, at 79 and back in the White House, he is making part of that dream a reality.
He plans to remain in Scotland until Tuesday. During the trip, he will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade.
Meanwhile, his family is focused on the new course’s opening. Trump said his son Eric will cut the ribbon during their stay. Eric Trump also joined him at the groundbreaking ceremony in 2023.
Trump golf diplomacy, however, raises questions about blurred lines between government and private business. The White House insists the trip is official. Yet, critics point to the promotion of Trump-branded resorts abroad.
Press Secretary Taylor Rogers defended the visit. She called it a “working trip” and praised Trump’s world-class golf developments. She said elite players and major tournaments regularly use Trump-owned venues.
Previously, the president skipped Aspen and Davos summits. But he made time for the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ golf forum in Singapore last May.
Trump already owns a course in Aberdeen and another near Turnberry on Scotland’s southwest coast. The latter sits 200 miles from his newest venture.
Despite political optics, Trump isn’t the first U.S. president to golf in Scotland. Dwight Eisenhower played in Turnberry in 1959. George W. Bush visited Gleneagles in 2005 but didn’t play.
Many historians trace golf’s roots to medieval Scotland. In 1457, the Scottish Parliament even banned the sport. Officials worried it distracted men from archery practice.
Trump golf diplomacy is not without precedent. Presidents from William Taft to Obama have brought the game into the White House. Some used it for stress relief, others for networking.
Trump’s reported handicap stands at 2.5, although it hasn’t been verified since 2021. Biden and Obama both rank slightly higher.
Regardless, Trump’s mix of foreign policy and personal branding is unmistakable. And for now, Scotland is where both worlds meet.
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