US President Donald Trump was lying low on his Scottish golf course on Saturday before summits with some of the world top leaders, as a back home his relations with the disgraced financer and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were under the spotlight.
Trump landed in Scotland on Friday on a visit that caused protests in Scotland, where hundreds of people had lined the streets of the capital Edinburgh waving placards saying: NOT MY PRESIDENT.
Upon arrival, the U.S leader told reporters that he would tour his two golf properties in Scotland; one in Turnberry on the west of the country where he is playing on Saturday and the other in Aberdeen at the east of the country.
He will also meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Scottish leader John Swinney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whom he termed as a highly respected woman.
Von der Leyen traveled to Scotland on Saturday before the meeting, as two of the US top officials flew in Washington, and both sides showed cautious optimism that a framework trade agreement might be achieved.
The White House said that Trump will be meeting with von der Leyen at 1530 GMT on Sunday.
Donald Trump on Friday asked reporters to leave him alone and concentrate on bigger matters and other individuals after being annoyed by repeated questions on the investigation file on predator financier Jeffrey Epstein left behind on his administration to handle by the time he was about to die in jail.
Trump replied saying, – You are making a very big thing out of a thing that is not big. Don not talk about Trump. The thing you should say is that we have the best six months in a presidential history ever.”
As a rule, Trump, whose stay-on-message skills remain unmatched among politicians, has not been able to shake off simmering discontent among his generally supportive audience over Epstein, who committed suicide in jail in 2019.
On Saturday morning, the US president was spied at the golf course, but there were no scheduled events that he had to partake in. Photographers and fans were forced at bay with tightened security.
According to the White House, Trump was reportedly golfing with his son, Eric Trump and the US ambassador to Britain Warren Stephens, and son. Karoline Leavitt, white house press secretary was also on the course.
Two of the sources familiar with the issue told Reuters that the officials at the White House are hoping that taking some time out of the spotlight will make the Epstein issue settle down.
Gaza concerns:
Out of the golf course, hundreds of anti-Trump demonstrators amassed front the US consulate in Edinburgh and some displayed phrases with pictures of Trump together with Epstein. Other people in the audience had signs that backed Palestine.
Cat Cutmore, 31, a resident of Edinburgh, said she was constrained to protest Trump due to her strong reservations about the deteriorating situation in Gaza following the 21 months of war and what she believed as the undermining of democratic values mainly by the US president.
She bristled at a warm welcome offered to him by Scottish and British authorities.
