Trump visit gives Swinney golden opportunity to butter up president on Scotch whisky tariffs exemption

There had been a lot speak of the potential of a frosty reception when the US president locked eyes with Scotland’s first minister.

Donald Trump and John Swinney aren’t pure pals. They could not be additional aside politically talking and personality-wise.

Nonetheless, it appears Mr Trump is having fun with his international vacation sufficient for the pair to park their variations and bond over their mutual love for Scotland.

As Mr Trump departed the White Home, he branded Mr Swinney a “good man” earlier than turning up the love suggesting he had heard “good issues” concerning the SNP chief. As near an endorsement because it will get from Mr Trump.

The White Home prolonged an invitation for a one-to-one assembly between the president and first minister however final evening got here one other alternative, within the type of a VIP dinner.

Sources near the Aberdeenshire banquet, the place seafood was on the menu, described it as a “productive, attention-grabbing” occasion.

I’m advised Mr Swinney and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer sat on both facet of the president in a night the place they talked golf and commerce within the firm of round 20 others.

POTUS (president of america) had earlier stated he wished to see Scotland “thrive” and clearly the presence of each Mr Swinney and Mr Starmer created the golden alternative to butter up the president who’s mulling over decreasing Scotch whisky tariffs to zero.

Sources within the room described the primary minister as “touchdown some arguments” earlier than the prime minister departed the occasion early. Ditching dessert apparently.

However the dinner had all of the components to be a clumsy encounter.

The primary minister beforehand known as for the upcoming state go to with Mr Trump to be axed within the wake of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy White Home shouting match earlier this yr.

And in true Mr Trump type, simply hours earlier than the Aberdeenshire summit the president had been freewheeling dwell on TV about Scottish independence – Mr Swinney’s lifetime purpose – saying a second vote on the nation’s future needs to be restricted to “50 or 75 years”.

An eye fixed-bulging intervention from the chief of the free world.