ANAS Sarwar has been branded “sleekit” after it emerged he met with US President Donald Trump’s son in a secret meeting.
It was revealed this week that the Scottish Labour leader met with Eric Trump last month at the Gleneagles Townhouse hotel in Edinburgh.
Trump met with the First Minister, John Swinney, at Bute House following a request from the US businessman, where the pair’s discussion was reportedly concentrated on golf.
The US President’s son, the executive vice-president of the Trump Organisation, reportedly complained about the vandalism of the family’s Turnberry golf course in his meeting with Sarwar, which the MSP agreed shouldn’t have happened.
In March, protesters sprayed red paint on the Turnberry clubhouse at the 800-acre resort, and caused damage to the golf course’s greens, where the words “Gaza is not for sale” were painted.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Swinney confirmed he would not be meeting any US Government officials while he visits New York for Tartan Week, and also criticised Sarwar’s transparency around his meeting with Trump.
“I don't have any plans to meet members of the Trump family,” he said.
“Of course, I've been open and transparent about my engagement with the Trump family, unlike the Labour leader, who met with Eric Trump on the same day as I did in Edinburgh, and the news has only come out three weeks later.
“I don't think that tells us anything other than the Labour party operate in a sleekit fashion.”
Scottish Labour declined to comment on the meeting.
Swinney will cross the Atlantic on Friday to attend a series of engagements as part of the annual Tartan Week celebrations.
His visit comes at a time of intense uncertainty for UK and Scottish trade after a 10% tariff was announced on all exports to the US, which will take effect at 5am UK time on Saturday – when Swinney is in America.
The First Minister has made clear about the impact of the tariffs on Scottish businesses, pledging to “stand shoulder to shoulder with Scottish industry”.
