US President Donald Trump will travel to Scotland today for a five-day trip that will see him visit two of his golf resorts.
During the latter part of his semi-private visit, Mr Trump is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney.
However, a number of protests have been organised across Scotland in opposition to Mr Trump’s visit. They are due to take place tomorrow in areas such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Officers from the PSNI are being sent to Scotland, to assist with policing the visit, following a “mutual aid” request from Police Scotland.
In a statement this week, the PSNI said that officers would “support Police Scotland colleagues in the planning and safe delivery of policing around the US presidential visit”.
Mr Trump will visit his Turnberry resort on the west coast and his Aberdeen hotel on the east coast, where he is due to open a second golf course, named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump.
US military aircraft fly over the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour ahead of Donald Trump’s visit
It is expected that the focus of Mr Trump’s meeting with Mr Starmer will be on refining a trade agreement, with hopes on the British side that 25% tariffs on steel can be reduced.
Speaking ahead of his arrival, Eddie Barnes, director of the school of social and political sciences at the University of Glasgow, said the visit presented an “opportunity” for Mr Starmer, in terms of having a chance to discuss key issues such as Gaza, Ukraine and trade.
He also said it presented a similar opportunity for Mr Swinney, who has previously criticised Donald Trump and called for September’s official state visit to the UK not to go ahead.
“Like the Irish, who have always been great at using any connection that visiting presidents might have to Ireland, here we have a president who has a strong connection to Scotland and it’s therefore a great opportunity for John Swinney to use those connections in Scotland’s best interest,” Mr Barnes explained.
