U.S. President Donald Trump officially opened a new 18-hole golf course at his Trump International property near Aberdeen, Scotland, on Tuesday, marking the end of a five-day visit that blended leisure with high-stakes diplomacy. Accompanied by his sons, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., and several grandchildren, Trump celebrated the course’s scenic dune setting before playing a brief round with notable figures, including former soccer stars and business leaders.
Initially planned as a private trip, Trump’s visit evolved into a platform for significant diplomatic engagements. He secured a trade agreement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, held bilateral talks with British officials, and conducted phone calls to defuse tensions in a budding conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. During a Monday meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the escalating hunger crisis in Gaza, where the Palestinian death toll from Israel’s military offensive has exceeded 60,000. Trump openly challenged Netanyahu’s claim that no starvation exists in Gaza and issued a stern deadline to Russian President Vladimir Putin to advance peace efforts in Ukraine.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Trump emphasized his global peacekeeping efforts, stating, “We’ve stopped about five wars. That’s much more important than playing golf.” He expressed his intent to return to Washington, D.C., to “put out fires all over the world,” referencing a recent ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. Trump’s diplomatic initiatives have earned him nominations for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize from several nations, including Pakistan, a sentiment echoed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on social media.
The golf event drew an eclectic crowd, including golfers Paul McGinley and Rich Beem, who played alongside Trump and Eric, as well as former soccer stars Andriy Shevchenko, now president of Ukraine’s football association, Robbie Fowler, Gianfranco Zola, and Jim Leighton. Scottish First Minister John Swinney, Jaguar Land Rover CEO Adrian Mardell, and Alastair King, Lord Mayor of the City of London, also attended, highlighting the intersection of business, sport, and politics.
Trump’s visit underscores his ability to merge personal ventures with international leadership, as he balances the launch of a luxury golf course with efforts to address pressing global crises.