Donald Trump spent the night at his family-owned golf resort in Scotland but took time to criticise European leaders over wind turbines and immigration, claiming there won’t be a Europe unless they “get their act together”.
“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,” he said.
“On immigration, you better get your act together or you’re not going to have Europe any more.”
Intensive negotiations continued on Saturday between the EU and the US before a crunch meeting in Scotland between Trump and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, seeking to avert a costly trade war.
Here’s more on this and the day’s other key Trump administration stories.
Trump skips press meeting to play golf before US-EU talks
Donald Trump abandoned a scheduled meeting with the press on Saturday morning for a round of golf at his seaside course in Turnberry, with music blaring from the buggy he drove.
During what is billed as a four-day family visit to Scotland, Trump is meeting European leaders and the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, raising hopes of new and refined trade deals with the EU and the UK.
On the prospects of an EU trade deal, the US president has said there are “20 sticking points”. When asked what they were, he said: “Well, I don’t want to tell you what the sticking points are.”
He described Ursula von der Leyen as a “highly respected woman” and said the meeting on Sunday with the EU chief would be “good”, rating the chances of a deal as “a good 50-50”.
Democrats request copy of Epstein ‘birthday book’
House Democrats on Friday sent a letter to the attorneys representing the estate of Jeffrey Epstein requesting a copy of the so-called “birthday book” that reportedly contains a crude poem and doodle from Donald Trump in celebration of the late sex offender’s 50th birthday.
In the letter, California congressmen Ro Khanna and Robert Garcia say the contents of the book may be “essential” to congressional oversight of the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein controversy. In the letter, they ask for a “complete and unredacted” copy of the book by 10 August.
The “department of government efficiency” (Doge) is using artificial intelligence to create a “delete list” of federal regulations, according to a report, proposing to use the tool to cut 50% of regulations by the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
The “Doge AI Deregulation Decision Tool” will analyze 200,000 government regulations, according to internal documents obtained by the Washington Post, and select those it deems to be no longer required by law.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to “immediately meet” to work out a ceasefire, according to Donald Trump, who spoke to the leaders of both countries as he sought an end to clashes that continued for a third consecutive day.
In social media posts, Trump said: “Both parties are looking for an immediate ceasefire and peace”, adding he would not negotiate a trade deal with either side until the fighting stopped.
Unease as crowded Cotswolds braces for JD Vance’s summer holiday
The narrow lanes and honeyed stone walls of Stow-on-the-Wold are not the setting where one would expect to see an angry altercation. But could this charming UK town soon find itself at the heart of the angry US culture wars?
According to reports, the US vice-president, JD Vance, will be holidaying in the Cotswolds with his family next month, and protesters are determined to let him know just how warm the welcome will not be in England’s chocolate box countryside.
Woman who fled Cuba for asylum arrested at US immigration courtroom
Jenny, 25, entered the US legally, but Ice agents arrested her after a hearing, part of a growing trend of court detentions.
Men freed from El Salvador mega-prison endured ‘state-sanctioned torture’, lawyers say
Venezuelans whom the Trump administration expelled to El Salvador’s most notorious megaprison endured “state-sanctioned torture”, lawyers for some of the men have said, as more stories emerge about the horrors they faced during capacity.
Can a rural hospital on the brink survive Trump’s bill?
Republican lawmakers voted for the “big beautiful bill” but cuts to Medicaid will hit hard in rural areas like Missouri’s poorest county, Pemiscot.
The Pemiscot Memorial hospital has long been the destination for those who encounter catastrophe in this rural stretch of farms and towns. Yet its days of serving its community may be numbered.
Hundreds removed from ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention camp, DeSantis says
Florida has begun deporting people from the notorious “Alligator Alcatraz” detention camp, the state’s governor said, and deportations are expected to increase in the coming weeks.
At a press conference at the controversial facility, Ron DeSantis said “hundreds of illegals have been removed” from the facility. He later clarified that most of those were flown from Alligator Alcatraz to other detention facilities in the US.
What else happened today:
Catching up? Here’s what happened on 25 July 2025.