Donald Trump faced some difficulties ahead of his meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, as loud bagpipe music drowned out his opening statements to the media at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. The president, who was set to discuss key issues ranging from trade to the ongoing war in Gaza with Starmer, began his remarks but was interrupted by the nearby bagpiper.
Despite the distraction, Trump continued with his comments before the pair were scheduled to hold discussions. Trump’s visit to Scotland, however, has not been without its challenges. The president’s ties to the country have long been complicated, as his mother was born in Scotland. However, more than 70 percent of Scots hold unfavorable views of his policies, a sentiment that is 10 percent higher than the rest of the United Kingdom.
This skepticism has made Trump’s trip less than smooth, with protests greeting his arrival earlier on Friday. Ahead of his arrival, Scottish daily The National ran a front-page headline reading: “CONVICTED US FELON TO ARRIVE IN SCOTLAND,” reflecting the controversy surrounding Trump. As his motorcade made its way from Glasgow to Turnberry, numerous protesters lined the streets, holding signs criticizing Trump, particularly over the ongoing Epstein Files scandal.
Demonstrations continued across Scotland throughout the weekend, with notable protests outside the U.S. consulate in Edinburgh, as well as outside Trump’s Turnberry resort and his Trump International Scotland property in Aberdeen. At the latter, one protest group displayed a sign reading: “Twinned with Epstein Island”, according to the BBC.
Despite the protests and criticisms, Trump spent much of his time in Scotland playing golf, accompanied by an armored golf cart. However, his personal frustrations were evident. On Sunday, he admitted to reporters, “I’m actually not in a good mood,” following a meeting with European Union President Ursula von der Leyen.
That meeting resulted in a new trade deal with the EU, but the deal was met with criticism from the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board, which described it as “odd” and accused Trump of abandoning his previous trade goals with the continent. The combination of political tension, public protests, and the ongoing Epstein scandal appears to have left Trump in a less-than-ideal state of mind as he navigates his trip to the U.K.