Donald Trump called UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer a “good man”, as he landed in Scotland where he will spend the weekend golfing at his two luxury resorts as part of a four-day visit.
The US president was greeted by thousands of people hoping to catch a glimpse of him as he landed at Glasgow Prestwick airport in Ayrshire just before 8.30pm.
Mr Trump was met by Scottish secretary Ian Murray as he walked off Air Force One at Prestwick.
The pair could be seen shaking hands at the bottom of the aircraft stairs before Mr Trump walked across to a group of journalists to answer questions before leaving in his armoured car known as The Beast.
Speaking to reporters at Prestwick airport, Mr Trump described Sir Keir as “a good man” and confirmed they will be meeting later.
“I like your prime minister, he’s slightly more liberal than I am – as you probably heard – but he’s a good man. He got a trade deal done.
“You know, they’ve been working on this deal for 12 years, he got it done – that’s a good deal, it’s a good deal for the UK.”
Mr Trump is set to start his at his golf club at Turnberry before heading to his second property in Aberdeenshire, where he will open a new course.
On Sunday, Mr Trump is due to meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade and on Monday, he will travel to Trump International Links Aberdeen accompanied by Sir Keir.
Asked by reporters at Prestwick for his advice to European leaders on reducing immigration, the US president said European countries need to “get your act together” on migration.
He said: “I say two things to Europe: Stop the windmills. You’re ruining your countries. I really mean it, it’s so sad.
“You fly over and you see these windmills all over the place, ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds, and if they’re stuck in the ocean, ruining your oceans.
“Stop the windmills, and also, I mean, there’s a couple of things I could say, but on immigration, you’d better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe anymore.”
Mr Trump also claimed that illegal migration was an “invasion” which was “killing Europe”.
He added: “Last month, we [the United States] had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with [former US president Joe] Biden.
“Biden was a total stiff, and what he allowed to happen… but you’re allowing it to happen to your countries, and you’ve got to stop this horrible invasion that’s happening to Europe; many countries in Europe.
“Some people, some leaders, have not let it happen, and they’re not getting the proper credit they should. I could name them to you right now, but I’m not going to embarrass the other ones.
“But stop: this immigration is killing Europe.”
The US president’s motorcade – which contained more than two dozen vehicles – entered his Turnberry golf resort at around 9.30pm, flanked by Police Scotland vehicles and ambulance crews.
Mr Trump’s vehicle passed a small group of protesters as he arrived at his Ayrshire golf course.
Protests are planned in Scotland on Saturday against the US president’s visit. The Stop Trump Coalition is organising events in Aberdeen in the city centre and outside the US consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday at midday.
There are also expected to be protests near Turnberry and Menie, where Mr Trump is expected to open a new 18-hole golf course. The new course will be named in honour of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who was born on the Isle of Lewis.
