Throughout American history, presidents have often escaped the heat and pressure of Washington by retreating to quieter settings. Abraham Lincoln spent summers at the Soldiers’ Home, just a few miles from the White House, while Ulysses S. Grant relaxed at his family’s cottage in Long Branch, New Jersey, occasionally driving horses on the beach. Ronald Reagan called his California ranch a place for “some of my best thinking.” Donald Trump, however, has taken the idea of a presidential getaway to a new level, traveling across the Atlantic to Scotland. His five-day midsummer trip, though described by the White House as a working visit, is centered around his family-owned golf resorts. Trump has been staying at his properties in Turnberry and Aberdeen, playing golf, and preparing to open a new course. While he is meeting with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the trip is also seen by critics as a promotional opportunity for his private business interests.
Unlike past presidents, Trump has built a foreign itinerary around his own properties, intertwining personal business with official travel in a way that ethics experts say blurs boundaries. While Dwight Eisenhower once played at Turnberry in 1959, no other president has used foreign travel as a platform to boost their own brand. Critics argue this represents a monetization of the presidency, as Trump continues to promote his businesses during his second term, just as he has with ventures like cryptocurrency and overseas developments. Historically, most presidents have chosen to vacation in the U.S., with destinations ranging from Key West and Cape May to Martha’s Vineyard and Texas ranches. Trump’s approach, however, highlights his priorities: golf, personal investments, and expanding his properties. This is a departure from his earlier stance, when he mocked the very idea of presidential vacations, saying in 2004 that leaders who enjoy their work shouldn’t need them. Yet, despite those words, Trump now takes long-distance trips centered on leisure, further blending the lines between presidential duties and personal gain.
