Trump didn't push me to support new oil and gas drilling, Swinney says
Mr Swinney said he was aware of Mr Trump's posts on his social media platform urging the UK to lower taxes and drill.
US President Donald Trump played some golf at Trump International Golf Links, on the Menie Estate in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire (Jane Barlow/PA)
On the last day of his five-day visit to Scotland, the American leader posted: 'North Sea Oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom.
'The taxes are so high, however, that it makes no sense.
'They have essentially told drillers and oil companies that, 'we don't want you'.
'Incentivize the drillers, fast. A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people!'
Mr Swinney had dinner with the President who was flanked at the table at Trump MacLeod House & Lodge – named after Mr Trump's Scottish mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump – in the Menie estate alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Asked if the President pressed Mr Swinney to back new oil and gas licenses during the two-hour event, the First Minister said: 'He didn't. He didn't press me to do that.
Trump had dinner with Keir Starmer and John Swinney on Monday evening (Jane Barlow/PA)
'He obviously expressed his view that there should be more oil and gas activity undertaken and I've seen material from the President this morning which raises issues about taxation, which of course, is not under my control.
'I don't have any influence over North Sea oil and gas taxation.
'Obviously the President made clear his view that he is not a supporter of wind turbines and I expressed the view that we have about our energy priorities on renewable energy.'
Mr Trump landed in Prestwick on Friday on Air Force One before travelling to his golf course in Turnberry, South Ayrshire.
On Monday, he and the Prime Minister were transported by Marine One to his golf course in Menie.
He opened up The New Course there on Tuesday shortly before leaving for Washington.
Mr Swinney had dinner with Mr Trump for around two hours where the First Minister made the case for exempting Scotch whisky from US tariffs, while a shorter discussion on Tuesday morning focused on what Mr Swinney said was the 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Gaza.
During his trip – his first since 2023 and first since winning re-election – Mr Trump repeatedly referred to Aberdeen as 'the oil capital of Europe'.
The US President campaigned on 'drill baby drill' during his election campaign last year.
He has been outspoken in his dislike of 'windmills', having taken the Scottish Government to court over an offshore wind farm near his Aberdeenshire estate.
Mr Trump said Scotland had the 'ugliest windmills I've ever seen', describing them as 'ugly monsters' that were 'destroying the beauty' of the country.
Donald Trump has urged the UK to extract more oil from the North Sea (Andrew Milligan/PA)
'Wind is a disaster,' Mr Trump said. 'Wind is the most expensive form of energy.
'When we go to Aberdeen you'll see some of the ugliest windmills you've ever seen.
'They're the height of a 50-storey building.
'You could take 1,000 times more energy from a hole in the ground. It's called oil and gas, and you have it in the North Sea.
'You are paying in Scotland, and the UK, and all over place, where they gave them massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
3 minutes ago
- ITV News
Government plans new offence to crack down on promoting Channel crossings online
Anyone who advertises Channel crossings or fake passports on social media could face up to five years in prison under new plans. Ministers are seeking to create a new offence under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill already going through parliament, to widen its scope to tackle illegal entry to the UK. The offence would also outlaw the promise of illegal working being promoted online and could carry a large fine. It comes as the Government grapples with a record number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel. On Wednesday, arrivals passed more than 25,000 for the year so far, a record for this point in the year. Assisting illegal immigration to the UK is already a crime, but officials believe the changes will give more powers to police and other agencies to disrupt criminal gangs. According to analysis by the Home Office, around 80% of migrants arriving to the UK by small boat told officials they used social media during their journey, including to contact agents linked to people smuggling gangs. Speaking on the announcement, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Selling the false promise of a safe journey to the UK and a life in this country – whether on or offline – simply to make money, is nothing short of immoral. 'These criminals have no issue with leading migrants to life-threatening situations using brazen tactics on social media. We are determined to do everything we can to stop them, wherever they operate." The National Crime Agency already works with social media companies to remove posts promoting crossings, with more than 8,000 taken offline in 2024. NCA Director General of Operations Rob Jones said the proposed new offence will give them more options of how to target gangs and their business models. Previous cases that could have been targeted under the proposed offence include a Preston-based smuggler jailed for 17 years for posting videos of migrants thanking him for his help. Albanian smugglers who used social media to promote £12,000 'package deals' for accommodation and a job in the UK on arrival would also be in scope. The Conservatives said it was 'too little, too late' and that only their proposal to automatically deport people who enter Britain via unauthorised routes can tackle small boat crossings. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'Tinkering at the edges won't fix the problem. 'Labour still has no clear plan to deter illegal entry, no effective enforcement and no strategy to speed up removals. This is a panicked attempt to look tough after months of doing nothing. 'The only clear and enforceable plan is the Conservative Deportation Bill, a no-nonsense strategy that allows us to detain illegal arrivals immediately and remove them without delay. The British public deserve focused action, not more of Labour's dithering.'
Scottish Sun
3 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Palestinian schools teach kids to glorify suicide bombers who kill Jews, reveals dossier as PM plans to recognise state
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PALESTINIAN schools teach children to glorify suicide bombers who slaughter Jews, a shocking dossier reveals. Kids are taught to look up to terrorists in classroom textbooks and even learn to add up by calculating how many 'martyrs' have died. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Palestinian schools teach children to glorify suicide bombers who slaughter Jews, a shocking dossier reveals Credit: AFP 2 The PM has defended his decision to set the UK on a course to recognise Palestine Credit: Reuters The Palestinian Authority (PA) - which runs the West Bank - also spends hundreds of millions of pounds a year on a 'Martyrs Fund". This pays monthly salaries to the families of Palestinians who have died or are in jail for carrying out attacks on Israelis. A prisoner's pay increases the longer the jail term. The families of those serving 30 years or more can get up to 3,400 US dollars - the equivalent of £2,500. Read More on World News SUBS SNUB Russia dismisses Trump's warning of sending nuclear subs closer to country The shocking revelations are contained in a dossier shared exclusively with The Sun on Sunday. They will spark fresh criticisms of Sir Keir Starmer's decision to recognise an independent state of Palestine in September unless Israel signs up to a peace process. Michael Rubin, Director of Labour Friends of Israel, backed the creation of a Palestinian state - but said the PA must clean up its act before it can be founded. He said that under leader Mahmoud Abbas the PA is 'authoritarian, riddled with corruption, and commits shocking human rights abuses'. He added: 'The PA must clean up its act if we're going to recognise a Palestinian state. 'We need to tell it to abolish the morally repugnant payment of 'salaries' to terrorists, quit glorifying suicide bombers in schoolkids' books, and stop naming its schools after Nazi collaborators.' Hamas vows no peace unless key demand is met as thugs share sick clip of hostage The PA's South Hebron Directorate of Education posted a photo of a children's book about female suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat. She killed 21 Israelis and injured over 50 more when she blew herself up at a restaurant in Haifa in 2003. In another shocking example, a grade 5 textbook Palestinian terrorist Dalal al-Mughrabi is celebrated for her heroism. She carried out the 1978 Coastal Road massacre which killed 38 Israelis, including 13 children. Earlier this year, Mr Abbas said he will end payments to the families of Palestinian 'martyrs'. The PM has defended his decision to set the UK on a course to recognise Palestine. Speaking earlier this week, he said: 'We do need to do everything we can to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where we are seeing the children and babies starving for want of aid which could be delivered. 'That is why I've said unless things materially change on the ground, we'll have to assess this in September, we will recognise Palestine before the United Nations general assembly in September.'
Daily Mirror
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Benjamin Netanyahu under increasing pressure to accept Gaza ceasefire amid famine
Intelligence analysis reveals Israel's aid blockade and constant air attacks on Gaza have backfired, leaving Benjamin Netanyahu nearer isolation from his ally, the US Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu is facing rising pressure to accept a ceasefire because of the famine horror in Gaza. Intelligence analysis reveals Israel 's aid blockade and constant air attacks have backfired leaving him nearer isolation from his ally, the US. The Soufan Centre, run by Middle East expert Ali Souffan, says he 'is coming under broad pressure to wind down Israel's military involvement in Gaza' as US President Donald Trump draws back from his support because of the famine. 'Trump has not urged him to end the war,' says the independent analysis organisation's report. 'But he has broken with him on the humanitarian situation.' The report adds that Mr Trump's aides 'appear to be pressing on with efforts to forge another temporary ceasefire'. It came as a United Nations Food Security panel claimed 'the worst-case scenario of famine is playing out in the Strip'. Meanwhile there was more anguish in Gaza yesterday as hospitals reported the killing of at least 18 people by Israeli fire, eight of them food-seekers. Close to a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution site, Yahia Youssef, looking for aid, described how he helped carry out three people with gunshot wounds. He said he saw many others lying on the ground bleeding. 'It's the same daily episode,' Mr Youssef said. The GHF media office said 'nothing [happened] at or near our sites'. It came a day after US officials visited one site and the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the GHF's distribution 'an incredible feat'. International outrage has mounted as the group's efforts to deliver aid to hunger-stricken Gaza have been marred by violence and controversy.
