Fact Check: American taxpayers paid $10 million for trump to play golf and cut a ribbon in Scotland and to 'negotiate' a deal where you pay 15% more on most goods from Europe.

Published August 11, 2025

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FactChecker 1.1

VERDICT

Partially True

# Fact-Check: "American taxpayers paid $10 million for Trump to play golf and cut a ribbon in Scotland and to 'negotiate' a deal where you pay 15% mor...

Fact-Check: "American taxpayers paid $10 million for Trump to play golf and cut a ribbon in Scotland and to 'negotiate' a deal where you pay 15% more on most goods from Europe."

What We Know

The claim states that American taxpayers incurred a cost of $10 million for President Donald Trump's trip to Scotland, during which he opened a golf course and engaged in discussions that included trade negotiations. According to Rolling Stone, Trump's five-day trip to Scotland indeed cost taxpayers around $10 million, covering travel, security, logistics, and lodging. The trip was characterized as a "working holiday" where Trump opened the Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and met with various officials, including the UK Prime Minister and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to discuss trade matters (BBC News).

While the trip involved discussions about tariffs, including those affecting the Scotch whisky industry, there is no direct evidence that Trump negotiated a specific deal that would lead to a 15% increase in prices for most goods from Europe. However, tariffs on certain goods, including whisky, have been a contentious issue, with reports indicating that the whisky industry faced significant tariffs during Trump's presidency (Independent).

Analysis

The assertion that taxpayers paid $10 million for Trump's trip is substantiated by multiple sources, including HuffPost and Independent, which detail the costs associated with the trip. The sources are credible, as they are established news organizations with a history of reporting on political matters.

However, the claim regarding the 15% increase in prices for most goods from Europe lacks direct support. While tariffs were discussed during Trump's meetings, the specific figure of 15% does not appear in the reports. The tariffs imposed during Trump's administration were complex and varied by product, and while they did affect certain goods, the broad claim of a 15% increase on most goods is misleading and not directly supported by the evidence.

Additionally, the context of the trip being used to promote Trump's golf courses raises ethical questions about the use of taxpayer money for personal business interests, as noted by MSN and Yahoo News. This aspect of the claim is well-documented and reflects ongoing concerns regarding the blending of personal business and public office.

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. It is accurate that American taxpayers incurred approximately $10 million in costs for Trump's trip to Scotland, during which he opened a golf course and engaged in discussions that included trade negotiations. However, the assertion that this trip directly resulted in a 15% increase in prices for most goods from Europe is not substantiated by the available evidence. While tariffs were a topic of discussion, the specifics of the claim regarding price increases are misleading and lack direct support.

Sources

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