With Trump’s use of this visit to further his business interests already in the spotlight, Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, faced significant criticism after announcing that his government was in talks to provide £180,000 of public funding for the Aberdeenshire resort as it hosts the 2025 Nexo championship on the DP World Tour next month.

The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, looked on in apparent discomfort during Monday’s joint press conference as Trump answered a question initially pitched about the expense of refurbishing the Federal Reserve’s historic building with a lengthy detour about the maintenance on his luxury golfresort.

Praising the “great craftsmen” of Ayrshire on... See more

Trump uses press conference with Starmer to boost his golf business

Scotland’s first minister criticised over talks to provide public funding for US president’s resort as it hosts Nexo championship

Asked about the Open at Monday’s joint press conference, Starmer said “the decision on the Open is not a decision for me” but was swift to praise Turnberry as “absolutely magnificent, both inside and out”.

Starmer’s comments came after the Guardian revealed that senior Whitehall officials had asked golf bosses whether they could host the 2028 Open... See more

Praising the “great craftsmen” of Ayrshire on Scotland’s west coast, he described spending “probably $100m [£74m]” on the hotel: “We did a very great job. You see how beautiful it is?