JOHN Swinney has said he would engage with Donald Trump if the former US President makes a return to the White House.
The First Minister said he has “duties to fulfil” as the leader of Scotland – but said that he is “no fan” of the business tycoon and TV personality.
It comes just weeks after Mr Trump was found guilty on all counts in a hush money trial, becoming the first ever ex-President with a criminal conviction.
Asked whether he would welcome the 77-year-old to Scotland if he was to be re-elected as US President, Mr Swinney said: “I obviously accept the outcome of democratic elections so if the people of the United States decide to elect Donald Trump as their President and he was to come to Scotland, I would of course fulfil my duties as First Minister to engage with him.
“Having said that, I am no fan of Donald Trump and I think Donald Trump has done huge damage to democratic civilised debate.
“So, I would really rather he was not the President of the United States, but if becomes the President of the United States, I’ve got duties as First Minister which I’ve got to fulfil, and I will fulfil because the people would expect me to.”
As Scotland’s First Minister back in 2021, Nicola Sturgeon said that Mr Trump should not come to Scotland for golf as it was not an “essential purpose” for travel.
Ms Sturgeon had locked down Scotland at the time amid a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country.
The ex-SNP leader also took several swipes at the businessman and said in 2018 that she was “tickled” by claims Mr Trump detested her.
She indicated at the time that she would have met the then US-President during his visit to the UK, which sparked huge protests across the country.
Last year, Mr Trump said that the people of Scotland are“much better off” without Ms Sturgeon in charge after she announced she would be standing down as First Minister.
And he dubbed her as a “failed woke extremist” in a post on his Truth Social platform.
He said: “I built the greatest golf properties in the world in Scotland but she fought me all the way, making my job much more difficult.
“The wonderful people of Scotland are much better off without Sturgeon in office!”