DONALD Trump “will start shitting on Scotland” if John Swinney and the SNP Government attract his attention, a former close aide of the US president has said.
Speaking to the Holyrood Sources podcast, former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci issued a firm warning about dealing with Trump – saying he “honestly doesn’t give a shit” about Scotland despite his roots in the country.
Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Lewis and it has been suggested that the connection could be leveraged to Scotland’s advantage – with Scottish Secretary Ian Murray saying last week that Trump has a “deep affection” for the country.
First Minister Swinney has said he has “absolutely no alternative” but to engage with Trump’s administration, adding: “That’s exactly what I’ll do.”
However, Scaramucci has warned that it would be best to remain off the US president’s radar.
“He wants his golf course to do well, and he loves the fact that his mother’s Scottish, but he honestly doesn’t give a shit,” he told the Holyrood Sources podcast.
“He gives a shit about one thing. That’s Donald Trump. And in the Donald Trump reptilian brain, there are two things that he cares about: attention and money.”
The former White House communications chief – who lasted just 10 days in the role in 2017 – further warned: “Not only is he unreliable, he’ll hurt you.”
“Your First Minister should be [thinking] ‘Hey, man, I’m getting out of this guy’s field of vision. If he comes over here, I’m going to be nice to him … I don’t need the hassle of him because if I go meet him like [Canadian prime minister Justin] Trudeau did, he’ll say, Scotland should be the 52nd state.
“He’ll start shitting on me, he’ll start shitting on Scotland, I don’t need the negative publicity because that’s what the guy’s about.
“He’ll hurt your First Minister if he gets too close to him or even tries to have a relationship with him.”
However, Scaramucci played down the idea that Trump may hit the UK with tariffs – after the US president said he intended to place 25% rates on both Canada and Mexico across the board.
“Donald Trump’s mother was Scottish. And he loves the pomp and circumstance associated with the British monarchy. He loves the traditions of Great Britain,” he said. “I don’t think he wants to be in a row or fight with the United Kingdom on economic terms.”
Swinney has said that Trump introducing tariffs could be “very damaging to key sectors” of Scotland's economy.
The US president previously imposed a 25% tariff on Scottish whisky which, according to the Scotch Whisky Association, cost the industry more than £600 million over 18 months.
“That is why, should the situation arise, I will engage emphatically to protect the interest of Scotland and to engage with the president of the United States if it is necessary to do so.
“I hope we don’t end up in that situation because Scotland and the United States enjoy, and experience, a very strong and long-lasting relationship and I want that to continue to thrive in the years to come.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We greatly appreciate the strong and lasting social, cultural and economic ties Scotland has with the United States and will work to ensure these ties continue to flourish, according to the values shared by both of our countries.”
