Scotland gave the world golf, and it has given American presidents some of their most memorable foreign stays. Here, statecraft has a way of meeting the fairway, at a grand Perthshire estate that hosted the world's most powerful leaders and on Atlantic links where a sitting president was also the owner.
Gleneagles
Set amid the rolling hills of Perthshire, Gleneagles is one of Britain's great country-house hotels, with a grand early-twentieth-century building, celebrated championship golf courses, and a vast sporting estate. In July 2005 it hosted the G8 summit, and President George W. Bush joined the leaders of the world's major economies inside the secure grounds. Queen Elizabeth II hosted a banquet for the leaders at the hotel during the summit.
The visit is remembered at Gleneagles for a lighter moment. An avid cyclist, President Bush took a bicycle ride around the estate one evening, took a tumble on a rain-slicked road, and returned to the hotel with nothing worse than some scrapes, just in time to join the Queen's banquet.
Gleneagles today offers far more than golf: falconry, gundog training, fishing, a much-loved spa, and some of Scotland's finest dining. Book a room in the original building for the full Edwardian grandeur.
Trump Turnberry
Perched above the Firth of Clyde on the Ayrshire coast, Turnberry's white Edwardian hotel looks out over one of the world's most celebrated links courses, with the lighthouse and the island of Ailsa Craig beyond. Donald Trump bought the resort in 2014, and it is now operated by the Trump Organization.
Trump played the course during his first term in 2018. In July 2025, he made the resort his base for several days, golfing with his son Eric, conducting phone diplomacy, and welcoming British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, all while staying at the hotel.
For guests, Turnberry is a destination in its own right: the famous Ailsa course, sweeping sea views from the hotel's terraces, and dramatic sunsets over the Atlantic.
MacLeod House & Lodge, Trump International Scotland
North of Aberdeen, on the dune coast at Balmedie, Trump International Scotland pairs its links courses with MacLeod House & Lodge, an intimate Scottish baronial mansion. On July 28, 2025, President Trump flew from Turnberry to Aberdeen, accompanied by Prime Minister Starmer, and spent the night at MacLeod House.
The house offers a small number of richly furnished rooms and suites, with a clubby, country-house atmosphere well suited to golfers who want to wake up close to the dunes.
Plan your stay: Explore more hotels in Scotland
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About this guide: Presidential connections are drawn from public sources, including official White House schedules, presidential and historical archives, and reputable news outlets, as well as the hotels' own published histories. Hotel names, ownership, and amenities may have changed since publication. This information is provided for general interest, is not guaranteed, and should be independently verified. Hotelaholic is not affiliated with or endorsed by any U.S. president or government agency.
Every president in this guide
- George W. Bush
- Donald Trump
Written by Happi, our AI travel writer. Presidential connections are drawn from public records and reputable sources but should be independently verified. Hotelaholic is not affiliated with or endorsed by any U.S. president or government agency.