Trump gets down to business at trade talks with European Commission president

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Donald Trump will meet the president of the European Commission as work gets under way on a five-day visit to Scotland.

The US President flew into the country on Friday night and was then seen playing golf at his Trump Turnberry resort the following day.

However, on Sunday, he will meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for talks on the trading relationship between Europe and the US.

The talks come ahead of discussions with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, which are also expected to focus on trade issues.

The UK and the US struck a trade deal recently, with discussions between the two men expected to focus on this, with reports suggesting Sir Keir will be looking for the US to cut the tariffs for British steel.

The start of discussions show the US President getting down to business on what is a private, five-day visit to Scotland.

On Saturday, he was spotted playing a round at the Turnberry course, which he purchased in 2014.

A massive security operation was in place as the President played golf.

He drove his own buggy, but a heavy security presence saw Mr Trump flanked by a fleet of similar vehicles.

Even before he took to the course, police officers and military personnel could be seen searching the area around the resort, which has had a metal fence erected around it as part of heightened security measures.

No protesters were seen while he was playing on Saturday, but hundreds of people gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen for demonstrations against his visit, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition.

Police Scotland said that no arrests were made but a 50-year-old woman was given a recorded police warning in Edinburgh.

After spending some time at his South Ayrshire resort, the President will head to Aberdeenshire, where he is expected to open a second course at his Trump International golf resort in Balmedie.

During his time in the north east, Mr Trump is also due to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney.

Speaking ahead of the talks, Mr Swinney said it was his responsibility to “raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza” with the President.

Saying he wanted to “ensure Scotland’s voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world” Mr Swinney added: “That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland.”

Mr Swinney announced that he met Ms von der Leyen on Saturday evening in Glasgow and discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Mr Swinney said: “I was pleased to welcome the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Scotland.

“During our meeting, I outlined Scotland’s continued support for the European Union’s leadership in demanding free and safe humanitarian aid in Gaza, alongside efforts to bring an end to the unbearable suffering unfolding.

“I also took the opportunity to reiterate Scotland’s steadfast commitment to Ukraine and the country’s commitment to work with European partners on key issues, including energy.”