President Donald Trump flew into Scotland for a private visit on July 25. But even before he landed, rumors started flying online about how the Scottish newspaper The National covered the story.
People online claimed that the front page of The National said: “Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland.” A Reddit post included an image of the front page with that headline and said, “Trump is expected to arrive in Scotland tomorrow. This is the front page of The National.”
The rumor picked up steam on X where users also shared the same image. One user said: “The kind of headline @realDonaldTrump current @POTUS deserves.”
Turns out the rumor was actually true. The National did run a front page on July 25 that said: “Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland.”
The subheadline under it read: “Republican leader, who was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation, will visit golf courses.” That part also got shared on social media.
The National’s own X account confirmed it when they posted the cover photo and said: “Tomorrow’s front page. Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland.”
They even posted a short video with their journalist Laura Pollock holding the paper and saying: “Supporters of Donald Trump are very angry at our front page this morning but we have a challenge for them. Which part is factually inaccurate?”
Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury on May 30, 2024, on all 34 felony charges tied to falsifying business records. It was all linked to hush money payments made to Stormy Daniels.
Later, on January 10, 2025, he was given an unconditional discharge. But even though he didn’t serve a sentence, the conviction stayed on his record.
Trump arrived at Prestwick Airport alongside Warren Stephens, who is the US Ambassador to the UK. Photos showed him pointing as he landed in Scotland.
He is scheduled to visit his golf properties in Turnberry and Aberdeenshire. The trip lasts four days and will include meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a “working visit that will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer to refine the historic US-UK trade deal.”
The two sides had just reached an agreement on tariffs known as the Liberation Day deal. It lowered the UK’s baseline rate on cars and steel.
There’s also a second golf course getting ready to open at Trump International Scotland. That’s part of the reason he’s making the trip.
