Trump Opens New Scottish Golf Course Amidst Diplomatic Talks and Energy Policy Debate
A new 18-hole golf course at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, officially opened on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by former US President Donald Trump. The event, marking the fifth day of his private visit to Scotland, unfolded against a backdrop of high-level diplomatic meetings and pointed commentary on global affairs and energy policy.
The former President celebrated the completion of the course, dubbed the “New Course” at the Menie Estate, praising his son Eric’s dedication to the project. “Eric worked so hard” on its creation, Trump stated, while Eric Trump himself earlier described the course as an “amazing masterpiece.” Trump expressed pride in transforming what he characterized as a “beautiful piece of land” into something even more impressive.
However, the golf course opening was interwoven with a series of significant meetings. Trump engaged in a brief one-on-one discussion with Scottish First Minister John Swinney, covering topics ranging from the war in Gaza to the Scottish economy and oil and gas taxation. According to reports, the two leaders found common ground on the issue of oil and gas taxes, agreeing they were currently too high. The First Minister reportedly emphasized Scotland’s deep concern regarding the situation in Gaza and urged the former President to leverage his influence to de-escalate the conflict.
Discussions on a potential exemption to tariffs for Scotch whisky were not revisited during Tuesday’s meeting, having been thoroughly addressed during a dinner conversation on Monday.
The former President also took the opportunity to voice strong opinions on a range of issues. He asserted that he had played a role in resolving several international conflicts, stating, “We’ll play [golf] very quickly and then I go back to DC and we put out fires all over the world… We did one yesterday – you know we stopped the war. We’ve stopped about five wars.” He maintained that such diplomatic efforts were “much more important than playing golf,” despite his enjoyment of the sport.
Beyond the golf course and diplomatic engagements, Trump continued to express his long-held views on energy policy. In a post on his Truth Social network, he described North Sea oil as a “treasure chest” for the United Kingdom, but criticized current tax levels as prohibitive, arguing they discourage drilling and investment. “Incentivize the drillers, fast,” he urged, predicting significant economic benefits and lower energy costs for the UK. He also reiterated his opposition to wind turbines, branding them “ugly monsters” and reaffirming his support for oil and gas extraction.
The visit has also included meetings with other prominent figures. On Sunday, Trump met with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, resulting in a trade deal establishing a 15% tariff on most European Union goods, which Trump hailed as the “biggest deal ever made.” On Monday, he held a lengthy press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, discussing the US-UK trade deal, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and engaging in a public exchange where Starmer defended London Mayor Sadiq Khan after Trump referred to him as a “nasty person.”
A diverse group of individuals attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, English football coach Robbie Fowler, Italian football player Gianfranco Zola, and Scottish footballer Jim Leighton, underscoring the event’s broad appeal. Guy Kinnings, CEO of DP World Tour, described the guest list as “validation of the appeal of golf as sport and as an industry.”
Trump is scheduled to return to Washington D.C. via Air Force One following the completion of his visit. He is also expected to return to the UK in September for a second state visit, an unprecedented occurrence. .
