Trump, Starmer Meet in Scotland Amid Gaza Crisis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump hosted U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Scottish golf resorts as major global crises loomed. While Trump showcased his properties, Starmer pressed for U.S. influence to ease Gaza’s suffering and advance trade. The leaders also discussed Ukraine and finalizing ongoing trade agreements.
Trump-Starmer Scotland Meeting – Quick Looks
- Trump and Starmer met at Trump’s Turnberry golf resort
- Starmer pushed for stronger U.S. pressure on Israel over Gaza
- U.K. to join Jordan-led Gaza aid airdrop campaign
- Trump criticized for downplaying Gaza crisis, seeking credit
- Trade talks included steel tariffs and Scotch whisky levies
- Both leaders touted progress on earlier U.S.-U.K. trade deals
- Ukraine war and Putin’s role also part of the agenda
- Trump visits Aberdeen for golf course ribbon-cutting Tuesday
Trump, Starmer Meet in Scotland Amid Gaza Crisis
Deep Look
EDINBURGH, Scotland — President Donald Trump welcomed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to his Turnberry golf resort Monday for high-level discussions where diplomacy, humanitarian crisis, and trade policy intersected on Scottish greens.
While Trump sought to highlight his family’s golf properties, Starmer arrived with more pressing concerns — chief among them, the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The British leader used the meeting to urge Trump to increase pressure on Israel to ease aid restrictions and support a ceasefire amid mounting global outrage.
The visit came as Trump maintained focus on his image and legacy. Referencing his long-standing claim that his Turnberry course strengthens U.S.-U.K. relations, Trump appeared more eager to showcase his brand than engage deeply on global crises. Nevertheless, Starmer emphasized what Downing Street called the “unspeakable suffering and starvation” in Gaza and pushed for immediate international action.
Britain, along with France and Germany, has criticized Israel’s tight control over aid flow into Gaza. Over the weekend, Starmer confirmed the U.K. would join Jordan’s humanitarian aid airdrop campaign after Israel temporarily eased some restrictions. Still, U.K. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds acknowledged that only the United States holds sufficient “leverage” to force significant change.
When asked about the crisis Sunday night, Trump largely deflected, expressing frustration at not being thanked for earlier aid efforts.
“You really want to have somebody say, ‘Thank you,’” he remarked, minimizing the humanitarian implications in favor of personal recognition.
At the same time, Starmer faced growing pressure from within his Labour Party to officially recognize a Palestinian state — a step France has already taken. The British Prime Minister reiterated that such recognition must be tied to a broader two-state solution plan.
Ukraine was also on the agenda. Starmer is pushing for renewed diplomatic momentum to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table within the next 50 days. Trump, who previously criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not expressing sufficient gratitude for U.S. support, has recently adopted a tougher stance toward Moscow.
On Tuesday, Trump will preside over the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a third golf course near Aberdeen, set to open to the public on August 13. Protesters are planning demonstrations in Balmedie, where Trump already owns a course, as they did over the weekend in cities across Scotland.
Despite diplomatic tensions, the Trump-Starmer partnership has made progress on trade. In February, the British leader praised Trump during a visit to the White House. In May, they announced a joint framework that reduced U.S. auto tariffs from 25% to 10% and opened U.K. markets further to U.S. beef. The G7 summit in Canada saw both leaders finalize a trade deal that removed tariffs on the U.K.’s aerospace sector and implemented quotas for other industries.
Trump also reached a trade agreement Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during another meeting at Turnberry, establishing 15% baseline tariffs on most goods. Although some key elements remain under negotiation, both deals reflect Trump’s continued efforts to use tariffs as leverage to close U.S. trade deficits.
Notably, the U.S. ran an $11.4 billion trade surplus with Britain last year — a rare exception to Trump’s usual deficit-driven rhetoric. Census Bureau data suggests that surplus may increase further in 2025.
Yet, unresolved trade issues persist. British steel, originally expected to enter the U.S. duty-free, is still subject to a 25% tariff. Reynolds confirmed that “negotiations have been going on on a daily basis” to remove the tariff but cautioned against immediate expectations.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney added another item to the list — urging Trump to remove a 10% tariff on Scotch whisky. Swinney argued that the unique cultural and economic value of the spirit warrants an exemption.
As the leaders continue navigating complex global challenges — from humanitarian aid in Gaza to trade reforms and Ukraine peace efforts — Starmer’s diplomatic strategy has been clear: stay in Trump’s good graces. So far, it seems to be working.
“The U.K. is very well-protected. You know why? Because I like them — that’s their ultimate protection,” Trump quipped during the G7.
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