Donald Trump insists US and UK can do 'great trade deal' as thousands protest visiting president in Scotland

Demonstrators march across Scotland as Trump enjoys round of golf at Turnberry

Donald Trump has insisted the US and UK are “going to end up making a deal” on trade as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Scotland to protest his visit to the country.

The US president reiterated an apparent belief in a new deal, after rowing back on an earlier statement warning Theresa May’s Brexit strategy could kill off chances of a trade pact.

In an interview with the Mail on Sunday the billionaire said: “We would make a great deal with the United Kingdom because they have product that we like. I mean they have a lot of great product. They make phenomenal things, you know.”

Despite his election pledge to put “America first”, Mr Trump said, “we’re going to argue, we’re going to fight, and we’re going to end up making a deal”. The UK’s leaders would naturally put British interests first as well, he added.

His comments come after Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, claimed Britain would have a “great deal of freedom” to negotiate a trade deal with the US after Brexit.

The terms of the UK’s exit have not been finalised, however.

Mr Trump told the Mail on Sunday he had urged Ms May to secure a “carve-out” in her Brexit deal that would allow a separate trade pact with America. “I think no matter what happens, they’re going to have carve-outs and they’re going to make a deal with us,” he added. “I’ve really no doubt about it.”

The interview was conducted shortly before Mr Trump departed London’s Stansted airport for Scotland, where he has spent two days at his Turnberry golf resort.

Scots gave him a frosty reception with tens of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets, mirroring similar protests in London earlier in the week.

The US leader waved to protesters from his luxury resort in South Ayrshire as they shouted “No Trump, no USA, no KKK, no racist USA.”

More than 100 protesters also gathered outside Trump International Golf Links by Balmedie in Aberdeenshire.

Thousands marched in Edinburgh where a 20ft Donald Trump baby blimp was flown and placards with messages including “Dump Trump” were waved as part of a so-called “Carnival of Resistance”.

Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, said opposition to Mr Trump was about policies rather than his personality and that reports he “totally hates” her only left her amused.

She said she had been a “wee bit tickled” by comments made by a former UK government aide that the US president had been “bitching” about her to Theresa May.

“I find it hard to believe that the president of the United States with all the big important issues that he has to deal with on a daily basis, finds the time to rant about me on the telephone to Theresa May.”

It was the third day of protests in Britain since the American leader arrived for a working trip which included trade talks with Theresa May and a tea with the Queen.

Mr Trump is due to fly to Helsinki in Finland for a summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin.