The Scotland's first minister held a “warm” meeting with Donald Trump's son Eric in Edinburgh on Thursday, days after the US President's golf course in Turnbury was targeted by protesters.
John Swinney met Eric Trump at his official residence, a Georgia townhouse in Newtown, Edinburgh, as both sides described it as a daily business meeting focusing on the Trump family's golf interests.
Scottish officials suspect that the US president will visit Scotland this summer to open a second championship course at a small golf resort in Aberdeenshire. The expected opening event in June was mentioned during the meeting, but the president's visit was not discussed.
The meeting, which Swinney is the first to have with any member of the Trump family, comes amid rising tensions over the UK's Ukrainian regime's stance and punitive tariffs, including UK steel and aluminum.
The visit suggests that Trump is eager to restore a friendly link with Scotland. In Scotland, it owns Ayrshire Turnberry Golf Resort and a boutique hotel and golf course north of Aberdeen.
Eric Trump, executive vice president of the organization, said:
“The first ministers thanked the Trump organization for their enormous ongoing investment and commitment to Scotland. This was the first time I've heard those words from the first minister and they were greatly appreciated.”
A Swinney spokesman claimed there was nothing unusual about the event. “It's not a political meeting, it's a business meeting,” he said. “We are trying to act and treat responsible governments in a way that treats business people the same way.”
Until now, Donald Trump had a chilly ties with the Scottish government. He collapsed publicly with former First Pastor Alex Salmond with support from Offshore Wind Farm near Trump's Aberdeen Shire Course.
Kiel Starmer presented Trump with an invitation from King Charles for his second state visit at the White House later last month, suggesting that the King might meet Trump in Scotland to plan the event.
After the newsletter promotion
Swinney faces intense pressure from within the Scottish National Party and denounces the proposal. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said in X that the Prime Minister “stopping from his knees and canceling the offer to visit the state.”
Swinney rejected these challenges and told Holyrood's MSP last week that state visits should be reconsidered only if Trump continues to threaten and weaken Ukrainian President Voldy Mee Zelensky. Otherwise, he said that offering a priority for a second visit to the province was wise, given the seriousness of the Ukraine crisis.
Eric Trump is also expected to visit Turnberry. There, a pro-Palestinian activist sprayed pro-Gaza protest slogan on the grass on Saturday, severely damaged parts of his golf course.
