Imogen James
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a week of bagpipes, politics and golf for US President Donald Trump as he visited Scotland on a five-day trip.

He had his final engagement today - the grand opening of his new Aberdeenshire golf course, complete with a pop sound track and a grandstand full of VIPs.

He told the crowd that he loved Scotland, and promised a "special decade" coming up.

The fanfare came after Trump met Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, in a closed meeting. Swinney said they spoke about Scotland's "heartache" over Gaza, as well as whisky tariffs and oil and gas taxation.

The trip, which mainly promoted Trump's two golf resorts in Scotland, also saw the president secure a trade deal with the EU, as well as bilateral talks with the UK prime minister.

As Trump is set to depart Scotland soon on Air Force One, he will surely be hailing the trip a success. Even the media received praise from a smiling Trump: "They're not fake news, they're wonderful news."

Our live coverage is closing now, but you can read more about Trump's Scotland trip and the EU-US trade deal in our piece looking at the winners and losers.

Why Trump will likely see this Scotland trip as a successpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 29 July

13:26 BST 29 July

Sarah Smith
North America editor, reporting from Aberdeenshire

Image source, PA Media

When Air Force One takes off from Scotland, it will be carrying a very satisfied American president on board.

On what was billed as a “private visit”, he got a lot of work done.

Trump is taking home with him a trade deal with the European Union which is extremely favourable to the US. An important achievement as Trump has not concluded the “90 deals in 90 days” he had promised.

He seemed delighted to greet his good friend Sir Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf course and gave him a quick helicopter tour of his new course at his Balmedie resort in Aberdeenshire.

Serious discussions on Gaza appear to have emphasised the seriousness of the situation for Trump - and he dramatically shortened the deadline he had given Vladimir Putin for agreeing a ceasefire in Ukraine.

All this, combined with several rounds of golf, appear to make the perfect working holiday for the US president.

Today he even said the “media has been terrific”. A sure sign that he is pleased with his visit and with the press coverage he has received.

Is Trump right - is the North Sea a 'treasure chest'?published at 13:13 British Summer Time 29 July

13:13 BST 29 July

Esme Stallard
Climate and science reporter

Donald Trump has been heralding the potential of North Sea oil and gas reserves for the UK this morning – saying there is a “VAST FORTUNE TO BE MADE”.

Despite going for nearly six decades, the oil and gas industry in the North Sea reached peak production levels 25 years ago, as reserves of the fuels began to decline.

The UK government could issue new licences to companies to try and uncover new reserves, but this is unlikely to extend the life of the basin much longer, according to analysis by BBC News.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) - which issues licences - estimates there are about two billion barrels of "unlicensed" oil remains.

But in 2023 the industry produced 440 million barrels, so these unlicensed sources would only provide another five years of oil and gas.

The UK government has also faced repeated legal claims by environmental groups over issuing new licences, as they argue it breaches the countries legal obligations to limit climate change.

Whilst praising fossil fuels Trump criticised wind energy, saying it was the most expensive type of energy, and oil and gas from the North Sea would lower energy costs.

The cost of wind energy has fallen dramatically in recent years as the technology expands.

According to government figures, external the cost of offshore wind energy over the lifetime of a project is more than 2.5 times cheaper than a gas plant.

Andrew Kerr
Scotland political correspondent reporting from the Menie Estate

We are “Trump spotting” on what the president called the Great Dunes of Scotland.

Donald Trump has just opened his new course and now it looks like he’s inspecting what he now calls “The Old Course” - which has a familiar ring to it for golf lovers.

We’re just on the fringe of the estate and we watched (through binoculars) as a little motorcade of golf buddies made their way up the hill.

Down below a much more impressive motorcade of heavily-armoured US Secret Service vehicles tagged along on the service road.

People popped out the buggies and there was a familiar figure in white trousers looking over his dunes - and the dreaded “windmills”, lazily turning out in the North Sea.

Douglas Fraser
Scotland business and economy editor

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump doesn’t drink alcohol, but he’s probably had his fill of lobbying for the Scotch whisky industry.

John Swinney used his time with the US President to press home the fact that one cannot substitute imported Scotch whisky by moving its distillation to America, so it’s not so clear why a 10% tariff is required.

Scotch can, however, be substituted by US or Irish whiskey.

One of many questions being asked by the Irish government about the deal struck between President Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is whether EU spirits, including Irish whiskey, could gain an advantage from a 'zero-for-zero' deal with US distillers exporting to Europe.

For Ireland, the trade war carries bigger risks than most European states, as its economy starts from a high level of trade with the US, including beef and dairy, and even more integration in the services sector. It also has a golf resort, in County Clare, owned by Trump.

For Scotch whisky, meanwhile, the 10% tariff it now faces on exports into the US could go up to 35% on the premium products sold as single malt.

Starting under President Trump in 2019, during his first term in the White House, these were subject to a 25% tax as part of the trade battle between the US and EU (then including the UK) over subsidies for Airbus and for Boeing.

That was reckoned by distillers to have lost them £600m in sales over the 18 months until former President Joe Biden took action - not to end the tariff but to suspend it for five years. That ends in July next year.

To avoid that being added to the 10% tariff introduced this year, the US administration would have to take a positive step to continue the suspension or to end the airliner tariff war altogether.

As we've been reporting, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney had dinner with President Trump last night and they met again this morning for 15 to 20 minutes.

Swinney tells BBC Scotland he's had the opportunity to raise both domestic and international concerns with President Trump.

Domestically he says he talked about tariffs which are costing the whisky industry around £4m ($5.3M) each week.

He says he appealed to Trump's sentiment about Scotland and will continue to have dialogue about the tariffs.

Internationally he adds he was able to raise the "heartache in Scotland about the situation in Gaza" where people are starving.

Swinney explains: "If there is one person in the world that Benjamin Netanyahu might listen to it's President Trump and President Trump needs to press the Israeli government to deliver a ceasefire and to deliver humanitarian aid."

The US president is nearing the end of his Scotland visit, where he's been busy hitting the links and speaking to reporters.

If you're just joining us, let's bring you up to speed on the latest developments:

• Trump met Scotland's First Minister John Swinney this morning to discuss Gaza, whisky tariffs and oil and gas taxation, which they also mulled over a beef dinner last night
• The US president opened a new golf course in Aberdeenshire in front of a number of politicians and invited VIPs, and declared "we love Scotland"
• This is not the first time he has mixed private business with his public role, writes our North America editor Sarah Smith
• At a press conference at Trump Turnberry on Monday, both Trump and Sir Keir Starmer agreed on the need to get more aid to into Gaza

• Trump also presented a new, shorter deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire over the war in Ukraine of "10 or 12 days" from Monday - Ukraine's President Zelensky welcomed Trump's efforts, while the Kremlin says it has "taken note" but its "special military operation continues"
• Trump also announced a trade deal with the EU, describing it as the "biggest deal ever made", following talks with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen at his golf course in Ayrshire

The Kremlin has responded to Donald Trump's new deadline for Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire deal within 10-12 days, which he lowered from 50 days on Monday.

"We have taken note of President Trump's statement yesterday," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says, before adding that Russia's "special military operation continues".

Despite reports of Russian strikes killing more than 20 people across Ukraine on Tuesday, Peskov says Russia remains "committed to the peace process to resolve the conflict around Ukraine and secure our interests".

Trump reiterated his threat to impose sanctions and secondary tariffs on Moscow if the deadline is not met.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia's latest strikes happened "after a completely clear position was voiced by the United States – a position supported by the world – that Russia must end this war and move to diplomacy".

"Ukraine welcomes President Trump’s efforts and his determination to achieve peace," Zelensky says, adding: "Peace is possible. But only when Russia ends the war it itself started and stops tormenting people."

Trump may love Scotland, but the country wants something in returnpublished at 11:39 British Summer Time 29 July

11:39 BST 29 July

Andrew Kerr
Scotland political correspondent reporting from the Menie Estate

Early this morning the sun shone down through the cloud and haar, picking out the saltire which was proudly flying from MacLeod House.

President Trump had spent the night at the property after hosting a banquet attended by the prime minister and first minister.

Not to get too dramatic - but the early morning scene was reminiscent of the travelling court of a medieval Scottish king - moving up from Ayrshire to Aberdeenshire with liege lords coming to pay homage.

We will never see the like again - a president of the United States with recent Scottish ties and big business interests taking significant decisions on our home turf.

It’s strange to think the world’s biggest trade deal was concluded in a South Ayrshire golf resort - as the US and the EU agreed terms.

For our UK leaders like the prime minister and the first minster it’s a little awkward - they don’t want to be usurped by King Donald in their own country.

It’s about trying to strike a balance.

So, the prime minister might be pleased that the president has come round to what could be regarded as a more European way of thinking on Gaza and the first minister will want to see movement on whisky tariffs.

President Trump may love Scotland - but, despite the smiles, Scotland and the rest of the UK wants something in return.

Sarah Smith
North America editor, reporting from Aberdeenshire

President Donald Trump’s trip to Scotland has heavily featured both of his Scottish golf resorts.

Proudly showing off his new ballroom in Turnberry as he hosted Sir Kier Starmer there, today opening his new 18-hole course at Balmedie in front of invited politicians and VIPs.

Trump has always enjoyed aggressively promoting his eponymous businesses and he hasn’t stopped now that he has been re-elected president.

This is not the first time he has mixed private business with his public role.

Shortly before his tour of the Middle East in May, his son Eric Trump who is running the Trump Organisation, agreed deals for a new Trump tour in the UAE as well as new golf courses in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Trump visited each of those countries on his presidential visit.

This week he has been seen playing golf at both resorts as well as publicising them. Two of his favourite activities.

A reporter from the crowd asks Trump "what will you say next to Benjamin Netanyahu", the Israeli prime minister.

"We're working together to try and get things straightened out", Trump says.

It comes after the US president discussed the situation in Gaza with Scotland's First Minister earlier, with John Swinney said to have emphasised the need to do more in the territory.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir presented a European-led peace plan for Gaza to Trump on Monday, while Trump suggested that getting aid into Gaza was his focus, before discussing future peace plans.

"It's going to be a special day, it's going to be a special year, a special decade," Trump says.

He tells the crowd "we love Scotland", and references his mother who was born on the Isle of Lewis.

The US president cuts the red ribbon to a loud applause, opening his new golf course at his Balmedie estate.

Image source, Getty Images

Trump thanks Sir Keir Starmer, who visited the golf course last night, saying the prime minister was "very gracious".

He says the US "signed a very big deal" with the EU, and commends the previously agreed UK trade deal, which describes as a "very big deal and a great deal with the country".

Trump adds that the US was "trying to get it done for 12 years and we got it done".

"The media has been terrific, believe it or not. I didn't use the word fake news one time, not one time. Today they're not fake news, they're wonderful news," the US president adds.

Image source, Getty Images

Trump begins by thanking Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, saying "thank you very much for everything".

The US president says he will play a round on his new golf course very quickly before returning to Washington DC to "put out fires all over the world".

"We've stopped about five wars," adds the president. "That's much more important than playing golf."

Image source, Reuters

We are now hearing from Eric Trump, who introduces his father by saying, "I think the entire world is proud of him".

Trump begins walking to the podium to open his new golf course, to the tune of bagpipes.

Image source, Reuters

It's not just politicians who are in the grandstand, former Open champion Paul Lawrie, the last British golfer to win the Open when he triumphed at Carnoustie in 1999, is expected.

Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie, who won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles during his career, is also due to be there.

He made eight Ryder Cup appearances as a player and was a winning captain in 2010.

James Cook
Scotland editor

Eric Trump was present at the Swinney-Trump meeting.

Donald Trump Jr also attended at the start and end. A Scottish government senior source described the meeting as “very convivial” and said it was a “very good conversation".

The pair discussed a range of issues including “how Scotland was doing”; oil and gas taxation; Gaza; and — briefly - whisky tariffs, which they had talked about at length last night.

Swinney was said to have emphasised the need to do more on Gaza.

Image source, Reuters

We're seeing US President Donald Trump for the first time today as plays on his new course in Aberdeenshire.

We expect him to arrive at the ceremony soon, to formally open the course at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

You can follow along by clicking watch live at the top of the page, and we'll bring you text updates here.

Earlier this morning, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney met with Donald Trump, BBC Scotland's Political Editor Glenn Campbell has confirmed.

Trump and Swinney’s meeting this morning lasted around 15-20 minutes according to a Scottish Government spokesman.

Gaza was among the topics discussed.

Swinney is now in the grandstand for the course opening.

Rebecca Curran
Reporting from Aberdeenshire

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is among the VIP guests now being taken to the grandstand.

We are told the opening ceremony will begin “shortly”.

Still no sign of the president, but helicopters have been flying overhead for the past 10 minutes or so here on the Menie Estate.