Donald Trump has concluded his four-day visit to Scotland after discussing whisky tariffs and the situation in Gaza with First Minister John Swinney.
According to a source within the Scottish government, the meeting between the two leaders at the president’s Balmedie Estate was described as a “very good conversation” lasting approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Following the meeting, First Minister Swinney conveyed to BBC Scotland News his belief that the North Sea oil and gas industry is currently being “overtaxed.”
Prior to his departure from Scotland in the early evening, President Trump inaugurated a new course at his Aberdeenshire golf resort and referred to Swinney as a “terrific guy” during the ceremony.
Addressing the crowd at the opening ceremony, Trump recounted how his mother, a native of Lewis, “religiously” returned to her homeland each year following her emigration to New York at the age of 18.
“We love Scotland,” Trump declared.
The president indicated that he would play a round on his new golf course “very quickly” before returning to Washington DC to “put out fires all over the world.”
He further stated, “We’ve stopped about five wars. That’s much more important than playing golf.”
Subsequently, the president departed from Menie via the presidential helicopter, en route to RAF Lossiemouth for his flight back to the United States.
During his meeting with Swinney, Trump raised the issue of oil and gas taxation.
Earlier, on his Truth Social platform, Trump characterized North Sea oil as a “treasure chest for the United Kingdom” and asserted that taxes on oil and gas production were excessively high.
While the Scottish government had previously supported a windfall tax on the profits of various energy companies, it has increasingly voiced concerns regarding the impact of these levies on oil and gas producers.
Following his meeting with President Trump, Swinney informed BBC Scotland News that the industry was “overtaxed.”
He refrained from commenting on whether there should be a “presumption against” new oil and gas exploitation, emphasizing that any new extraction must align with climate change targets.
Regarding whisky tariffs, Swinney stated, “When the president came to Scotland at the end of last week, I think his view was that the trade deal with the UK was done and dusted.”
“I was setting out to him a very unique circumstance around Scotch whisky which can only be produced in Scotland.”
“It’s not something that can be relocated somewhere else.”
“I was pointing out the significance of that point and appealing to his sentiment about being very positive about Scotland – which he is – to try to get to a better position.”
Swinney also noted that the president had recently indicated “growing awareness and unease” concerning the situation in Gaza.
The First Minister expressed that the situation was a source of “heartbreak” in Scotland and urged the president to leverage his influence on the Israeli government to secure a ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Eric Trump was present at the meeting, while Donald Trump Jr. attended at the beginning and end.
Prior to the meeting, the First Minister presented the president with two framed historical documents from the National Records of Scotland.
One included an excerpt from the 1921 Census for Stornoway, featuring his mother’s family, and an entry from Old Parish Registers marking the marriage of his great-grandparents.
The second document featured a map of Lewis dating back to 1654.
In return, the president gifted Swinney an American bald eagle figurine, the national emblem of the United States.
During a visit largely focused on trade discussions with the European Union, Trump also played golf at his Turnberry resort, where he welcomed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday.
The pair then traveled to RAF Lossiemouth on Air Force One, before being joined by the First Minister for dinner at the Trump resort at Balmedie, near Aberdeen.
Sources indicate that Swinney engaged in over an hour of conversation with Trump on Monday evening.
Seated next to each other during the meal – which featured a starter of langoustine and a main course of beef – the two leaders “discussed at length critical issues such as whisky,” according to a senior Scottish government source.
Swinney is seeking an exemption for Scotch whisky from a 10% tariff imposed on UK exports to the US.
According to the Scotch Whisky Association, the spirit constitutes a quarter of all UK food and drink exports.
The trade body estimates that around a fifth of all Scotch whisky is exported to the US – a market valued at £971m in 2024 – and that the tariffs are currently costing the industry £4m per week.
The Scottish government source suggested that there is a “window of opportunity” between now and Trump’s return to the UK for a state visit in September to make progress on reducing the tariff.
Prior to the trip, the White House stated that discussions between the president and prime minister would address elements of the trade deal between the two countries.
Despite the trade deal being agreed, a 10% tariff remains on Scotch whisky, one of the country’s largest exports.
When asked if that tariff could be dropped or eliminated as a result of the meeting with the prime minister, Trump responded, “We’ll talk about that, I didn’t know whisky was a problem. I’m not a big whisky drinker, but maybe I should be.”
President Trump also used the media conference at Turnberry to criticize wind turbines, which he labeled “ugly monsters.”
A long-standing critic of turbines, he previously lost a legal battle to prevent the construction of a wind farm opposite his golf club in Aberdeenshire.
Trump stated, “Wind is the most expensive form of energy and it destroys the beauty of your fields, your plains and your waterways.”
“Wind needs massive subsidy, and you are paying in Scotland and in the UK, and all over the place, massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place.”
Instead, the president urged the UK to exploit North Sea oil and gas.
“When we go to Aberdeen, you’ll see some of the ugliest windmills you’ve ever seen, the height of a 50-storey building,” Trump remarked.
“You can take 1,000 times more energy out of a hole in the ground this big,” he added, gesturing with his hands.
“It’s called oil and gas, and you have it there in the North Sea.”
The prime minister stated that the UK government believes in a mix of energy sources.
“Obviously, oil and gas is going to be with us for a very long time, and that’ll be part of the mix, but also wind, solar, increasingly nuclear, which is what we’ve been discussing,” he said.
The president’s visit was characterized as a “private” trip and – unusually for such events – combined political engagements with business interests and his passion for golf.
It has necessitated a significant police operation in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire, as well as enhanced policing for protest marches in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
On Monday, Police Scotland “engaged” with a boat off the coast of Aberdeenshire, near the Balmedie golf resort.
Footage depicted the boat – displaying a Palestinian flag – being followed by police, but officers stated that no action was required.
Trump has frequently attributed his decision to invest in his Scottish resorts to the influence of his late mother.
He has been a regular visitor to his courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire over the past decade.
The president is scheduled to return to the UK in September for a state visit, during which he will reside with the King at Windsor Castle.
The PM says he will take the action in September, unless Israel takes steps including agreeing a ceasefire.
PM: UK will recognise Palestinian state unless conditions met
Robert Friedland of Ivanhoe Mines told the BBC the 50% tariffs would help re-establish the US copper mining industry.
Trump’s volatile trade policy has thrown the world economy into chaos, and put some US prices up.
Senior ministers are meeting during Parliament’s summer recess to discuss peace plans and aid for the territory.