SCOTS have criticised the First Minister for congratulating Donald Trump on his win in the 2024 US election.
Donald Trump declared victory in the US presidential race at a campaign event in Florida and soon after, leaders around the world began to congratulate him.
John Swinney, who had previously endorsed Kamala Harris for the presidency, offered his congratulations to Trump.
After the endorsement of Harris, Trump’s team responded, with Trump International Scotland claiming that Swinney’s comments were an “insult to the massive investment in Scotland made by the Trump family”.
And now, the First Minster has congratulated Trump, writing on Twitter/X: “Congratulations to president-elect Trump on his election.
“Scotland and the USA share many social, cultural and economic links.
“In that relationship, we will stand fast in support of our values of fairness, democracy and equality – ideals that America was built upon.”
Scots from across the independence movement quickly reacted to the post, with one user writing: "Read the room, would you be congratulating a rapist and convicted felon in any other circumstance?"
Former Alba MP Neale Hanvey wrote: "Wow that’s some volte-face,"while activist and former Greens Westminster candidate Iris Duane said: "Sacrificing us all for a golf club is it?".
Kelly Given, activist and SNP member, reacted writing: "We don’t have to congratulate rapists, actually."
Independence activist Lorna MacGillivray said: "What? Congratulations for the rapist in chief? I know you have to keep in with him, but this is a crawling post. Not a fan."
"Diplomacy is important, but this should have been worded better. I'm disappointed," SNP member Alex Paterson said.
Greens activist Ellie Gomersall wrote: "As an independence supporter, I think Scotland should have a voice on the world stage, and I think the FM should be vocal and involved in global issues to ensure Scotland's voice is heard.
"But this is just unnecessary. You really could just say nothing and no-one would notice."
One person said the "diplomacy" from Swinney was understandable but added that "a bit more standing up for our values would have been good to see this morning on your account" before pointing to the message by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Khan wrote on social media: "An important reminder today for Londoners: our city is - and will always be - for everyone. We will always be pro-women, pro-diversity, pro-climate and pro-human rights. These are some of the values that will continue to bind us together as Londoners."
Trump is set to become the first convicted felon to take the presidency of the United States.
A lengthy list of accusations made against Trump, including by E Jean Carroll, who was locked in a legal battle after a jury found him liable in 2023 for sexually assaulting the advice columnist in 1996 and later for defaming her.
The allegations against Trump go back decades and include those described in the Access Hollywood tape, a 2005 video made public weeks before Election Day 2016 that showed the then-reality television star bragging about grabbing, forcibly kissing and sexually assaulting women.
Did Nicola Sturgeon congratulate Donald Trump in 2016?
Reacting to Trump’s shock victory in 2016, then first minister Nicola Sturgeon did congratulate Trump but acknowledged "today many in America and across the world will also feel a real sense of anxiety".
"While this is not the outcome I hoped for, it is the verdict of the American people and we must respect it. I congratulate president-elect Trump on winning the election," Sturgeon wrote at the time.
She added: "It is normal in any election for those on the losing side to feel disappointment, but today many in America and across the world will also feel a real sense of anxiety.
“I hope the president-elect will take the opportunity to reach out to those who felt marginalised by his campaign and make clear - in deeds as well as words - that he will be a President for everyone in modern, multicultural America.”
