JOHN Swinney has said that Donald Trump indicated a “willingness and enthusiasm” to come to Scotland during the pair’s phone call on Tuesday evening.
The First Minister said he spoke with the president-elect on a range of topics, including the Scotch whisky industry amid concerns about the impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs.
Swinney previously came in for criticism after congratulating Trump on his US election victory, with the Scottish Greens having said any visit from him should be met with protests.
The First Minister disclosed he had spoken to Trump – whose company previously hit out at Swinney for backing Kamala Harris in the US election – to congratulate him on his US election win and discuss ties between Scotland and the US.
While he said they did not specifically discuss tariffs, Swinney did say he “raised the importance of the whisky industry for Scotland and the export markets in the United States”.
Describing their phone call, Swinney (below) told LBC: “I set out the importance that we attach of the economic connections, particularly around the Scotch whisky industry, between Scotland and the US.
“We did of course talk about golf … as the home of golf is very important to president-elect Trump, and he expressed admiration for Scotland and the character and the identity of the country.”
Asked specifically if Trump intended to visit Scotland again, Swinney said the president-elect had not shared his plans but he had “indicated a great warmth for Scotland, and his willingness and his enthusiasm to come to visit Scotland”.
Eric Trump has recently said his father intended to visit Scotland next year for the opening of a new golf course at his resort in Aberdeenshire.
On whisky specifically, Swinney said: “It’s vital that I convey the importance of the industry to Scotland, and I’ve done that tonight.”
The Scotch Whisky Association has previously estimated that US import charges imposed during Trump’s first term as president cost the industry around £600 million in exports.
