Donald Trump to meet with John Swinney when US President visits Scotland this month
Donald Trump will meet with John Swinney when the US President visits Scotland later this month, it has been confirmed.
The Republican leader will fly to his mother's ancestral homeland on a private trip which is likely to be centred around his two luxury golf resorts in Aberdeenshire and South Ayrshire.
Trump is expected to formally open a second course, named after his late mother Mary, at the Menie Estate in the north-east. The President is also expected to spend time at the five-star Turnberry hotel and golf links in Ayrshire.
It was announced today the New Yorker will also hold meetings with Swinney and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Dates and venues for the events have not yet been confirmed.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it had been working "collaboratively on arrangements with partners including Police Scotland on the visit of the President of the United States".
They added: "There are plans for the First Minister to meet with the President when he is in Scotland. It is important that the opportunity to promote the interests of Scotland is taken during this visit."
Trump previously had an introductory phone call with Swinney in December last year following his reelection as US President. The pair were said to have discussed the "social, cultural and economic ties" between Scotland and America.
The call happened just weeks after the SNP leader told journalists at the Scottish Parliament he was hoping Kamala Harris would win November's presidential election.
Swinney's remark was later branded "nasty" by Eric Trump, the President's second son. He said his father was "not going to lose any sleep over' over the comment and said "I'm not sure it bothers him one bit".
He said: "I mean, obviously [Swinney] read the temperature very wrong. He got it wrong. He got it very wrong because my father won decisively.
'And so, you know, endorsing a person three days before an election in a different country, and missing the mark by as much as it was missed by, you know, he read the tea leaves incorrectly.'
But relations between the pair were patched up in March this year when Eric Trump had a "warm and friendly" meeting with the First Minister at Bute House.
The businessman said they "did not discuss Scottish or US politics but concentrated on golf."
Swinney's planned meeting with the President is likely to face opposition from some members of the Scottish Parliament. Green MSP Ross Greer, who is running to become his party's new co-leader, said: "I doubt the First Minister would meet with Putin or Netanyahu.
"What is the distinction between them and Trump other than economic power and how do we think history will judge those who tried to treat him like just another world leader?"
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