Trump hits out at Macron over Palestinian state plan as he boards Air Force One for Scotland

Trump speaks before leaving for Scotland

We brought you news earlier that the US president had left Washington and was on his way to Scotland.

He covered a range of topics before his departure, from possible trade deals to Ghislaine Maxwell and more.

South Park creators respond to White House criticism over Trump depiction

The White House has hit out at long-running animation show South Park after its less than flattering depictions of Donald Trump during its long-awaited season premiere on Wednesday.

The episode depicted a cartoon Trump engaging in a sexual encounter with Satan and consistently showing his genitals.

In a statement, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said: "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention.

"President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history - and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak."

Asked about the reaction during a panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego, South Park co-creator Trey Parker said, with a mock-serious face: "We're terribly sorry."

The episode, shown on Paramount+, comes after the merger between Paramount Global, parent of the CBS network, and Skydance Media was approved by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

That follows Paramount Global agreeing to pay Trump $16m (£13.5m) to settle a legal dispute over an interview it broadcast on CBS with Kamala Harris.

South Park referenced the legal dispute in the episode, with the presenters of 60 Minutes (the show that caused Trump to sue Paramount), nervously reporting on protests while worried anything they say will spark more presidential lawsuits.

There was also reference to Stephen Colbert, the host of CBS' now-cancelled Late Show, who defiantly criticised the circumstances of the settlement between Paramount and Trump.

During the episode, Jesus, urging the population of South Park not to upset Trump, says: "You guys saw what happened to CBS. You really want to end up like Colbert? Just shut up or we’re going to be cancelled. If someone has the power of the presidency, and also has the power to sue and take bribes, then he can do anything to anyone."

Hours before the episode aired, South Park's creators signed a five-year deal with Paramount+ worth a reported £1.1bn for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. 

Trump dismisses Macron's plan to recognise Palestinian state

Donald Trump has dismissed Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognise Palestine as a state.

The French president announced the major change of policy in a letter to the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, last night, and is expected to make a formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Macron said he hopes the plan will bring peace to the region, but it drew angry rebukes from Israel and the US.

"What he says doesn't matter," Trump told reporters at the White House. 

"He's a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn't carry weight." 

How have Scotland's papers reacted to Trump visit?

Donald Trump is now in the air and heading towards Scotland, but how have the nation's newspapers reacted to the president's impending arrival today?

Most titles have understandably led with Trump's visit, though the Daily Star of Scotland has chosen to go with the death of wrestling star Hulk Hogan.

It has, however, included a small, doctored image of a topples Trump alongside the caption: "Uh-oh" Here's Donny!"

The National meanwhile has gone with a more direct approach. Their headline simply reads: "Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland".

The front page, which references Trump's 34 counts of falsifying business records related to his "hush money" trial, is a tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that people with criminal convictions are not allowed visas to enter the US.

Trump 'hasn't thought' about potential Ghislaine Maxwell pardon

Donald Trump has declined to say whether there's a chance of Ghislaine Maxwell being granted clemency.

The former girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been answering questions from the US Department of Justice, primarily to explore whether she has information about others who may have been involved in Epstein's crimes. 

Asked about the possibility of Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking, being given clemency, Trump said: "It's an ongoing investigation."

The US president then said he couldn't talk about a potential pardon for Maxwell.

"I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about," he said.

Trump's comments come amid significant public and political pressure on the Trump administration to release more details about the Epstein case, with a spotlight cast on the president's personal relationship with the disgraced US financier. 

Trump told reporters he had "nothing to do with the guy" and said other people, including former President Bill Clinton, were friends with Epstein.

He said: "You ought to be speaking about Larry Summers [former Treasury secretary]. You ought to be speaking about Bill Clinton who went to the island 28 times. I never went to the island."

Trump departs White House for Scotland

Donald Trump has just left the White House to begin his journey to Scotland.

Speaking to reporters before boarding Marine One, the president said he was looking forward to meeting Scottish First Minister John Swinney.

Answering questions on Gaza, where his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff yesterday pointed the finger at Hamas for a "lack of desire to reach a ceasefire", Trump said Hamas "really didn't want to make a deal".

On the return of Israeli hostages, which Witkoff said would now require "alternative options", Trump said "we're down to the final hostages".

He also said there was a 50-50 chance that the US would reach a trade agreement with the European Union. 

Erdogan says he may speak to Trump and Putin to arrange meeting on Ukraine

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he might speak with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin this week over the possibility of holding a meeting on Ukraine in Istanbul.

While the two leaders have held several phone calls discussing the war in Ukraine since Trump returned to the White House in January, they have not yet met face to face.

"By holding calls with Putin and Trump within this week, we will see if we can bring these leaders together in Istanbul, that is our effort," Erdogan told reporters today.

President's Scotland visit might be awkward for outspoken Trump critic Swinney

John Swinney will no doubt smile for the cameras and hope to make Donald Trump's five-day visit to Scotland as smooth as possible.

But the smile might well be through gritted teeth, given the Scottish first minister's past criticisms of the US president.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Trump 100 podcast, Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies noted that Swinney definitively backed Trump's opponent Kamala Harris during the US presidential election.

He also called for Trump's state visit to the UK to be cancelled over his fiery dressing down of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February.

"He was out publicly front and centre making those comments, but here you have now the two men coming together," he says.

"This might be awkward for John Swinney."

Maxwell questioning to continue today

Deputy US attorney general Todd Blanche is expected to meet Ghislaine Maxwell again today in Florida after interviewing her yesterday.

Blanche confirmed in a post on X last night that he met with Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and "will continue my interview of her tomorrow."

"The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time," he added.

The justice department is interviewing Maxwell primarily to explore whether she has information about others who may have been involved in Epstein's crimes. 

It comes amid significant public and political pressure on the Trump administration to release more details about the Epstein case, with a spotlight cast on the president's personal relationship with the disgraced US financier. 

"[Blanche] took a full day and asked a lot of questions," Maxwell's attorney David Markus said of yesterday's talks.

"Miss Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped. She never invoked a privilege. She never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability."

-SKY NEWS