President Donald Trump has deflected questions about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as he arrived in Scotland for a golfing trip and trade talks. Landing at Glasgow Prestwick airport on Friday evening, Trump denied reports that he had been briefed about his name appearing in files pertaining to the Epstein case, adding that he had not 'really been following' the justice department's interview with Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Trump's name appeared on a contributor list for a book celebrating Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003, according to the New York Times. The professionally bound book, which reportedly had multiple volumes, opens with a handwritten letter from Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for conspiring to traffic children. Trump has denied contributing a signed and sexually suggestive note and drawing, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, and last week sued the Journal's owner and reporters for libel.
When asked about possible clemency for Maxwell, Trump said it was 'no time to be talking about pardons' and confirmed he had the power of a presidential pardon but had not thought about it. Maxwell had a second meeting on Friday with the US deputy attorney general and Trump's former personal defence attorney in Florida, where she is serving her prison term.
Trump was greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray as he walked off Air Force One. He plans to spend the weekend at one of his golf properties near Turnberry, and will later visit Aberdeen, where his family has a golf course. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss trade.
