Donald Trump 'knows where I stand' on Scottish independence, says John Swinney
Swinney has reportedly accepted a dinner invitation from the US President in Aberdeenshire on Monday, before scheduled official talks taking place the next day.
READ MORE: Only SNP majority can deliver indyref2, John Swinney says
Asked what he will be discussing with Trump, and if that includes the issue of Scottish independence, Swinney said: 'I've got a job to do as First Minister to protect and promote the interests of Scotland, and I want to use this opportunity of meeting with President Trump to take forward some of the domestic and international concerns of the people of Scotland.
'Domestic issues, obviously, the trade and tariffs issues affecting Scotch whisky are uppermost in my mind.
'On the international situation, the humanitarian crisis, tragedy, in Gaza is central to my concerns.
'I want to encourage President Trump to apply pressure on the Israeli government to deliver a ceasefire, to enable the humanitarian aid to be delivered on the ground, and President Trump is strongly, if not uniquely, positioned to deliver that pressure to the Israeli government.'
The FM added: 'And on the question of independence, President Trump knows where I stand on these questions, and I want to make sure the people of Scotland make their views clear at the election in May.'
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