Donald Trump has officially opened his new Scottish golf course by saying he would play a quick round before returning to Washington to “put out fires all over the world”.
The US President teed off at The New Course in Menie, Aberdeenshire, in front of a crowd including golfers, the Scottish First Minister and the Scottish Labour leader.
Mr Trump said he was “working together” with Israel “to try and get things straightened out” in Gaza amid warnings of severe mass starvation in the Palestinian enclave.
After opening his new golf resort, a reporter asked him “what will you say next to Benjamin Netanyahu”, the prime minister of Israel.
“We’re working together to try and get things straightened out,” Mr Trump replied.
Earlier during his speech at the course, the Republican leader said he would fly back to the Washington to “put out fires all over the world”.
Donald Trump teed off at The New Course in Menie, Aberdeenshire
Just before hitting the first ball at the New Course, the US president told those gathered on a grandstand: “We started with a beautiful piece of land, but we made it much more beautiful.
“The area has really welcomed us. If you remember at the beginning there wasn’t quite a welcome, but it wasn’t bad.
“But with time they liked us more and more, now they love us and we love them.”
Mr Trump added: “I look forward to playing it today.
“We’ll play it very quickly and then I go back to DC and we put out fires all over the world.
“We did one yesterday – you know we stopped the war. We’ve stopped about five wars.
“That’s much more important than playing golf. As much as I like it, it’s much more important.”
The president thanked his son Eric, who was involved in the creation of the new course (Jane Barlow/PA)
The President met First Minister Mr Swinney on Monday evening at a private dinner, and the two had a more formal meeting on Tuesday ahead of the course opening.
This meeting is understood to have focused on Scotch whisky tariffs and the situation in Gaza.
The US president’s fifth and final day in Scotland follows a meeting and press conference with Sir Keir Starmer on Monday.
The Prime Minister will convene an urgent Cabinet meeting on Tuesday as he seeks to set out a pathway to peace in Gaza.
He has called senior ministers in during the summer recess after sharing plans he is working on with France and Germany to “bring about a lasting peace” with Mr Trump when they met in Scotland, Downing Street said.
Mr Trump will head back to the US later on Tuesday on Air Force One.
Construction of the new course in Menie began in 2023, with Mr Trump and his son Eric breaking ground on the project.
Critics say the Trump developments in Scotland have not delivered as many jobs as promised and work at the Menie site has caused environmental damage.
