Is it America first or America worst?
Politicians react to visit of the US President
Clydesdale MP David Mundell helped roll out the red carpet for Donald Trump — but not every Lanarkshire politician was as welcoming.
In his role as Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr Mundell was at Prestwick Airport on Friday night to greet the 45th President of the United States.
And he said that an official welcome by a UK Government Minister to a head of state was entirely appropriate.
Mr Mundell said: “We have really important economic, security and cultural links with the United States and should respectfully welcome their duly-elected head of state.
“Obviously, there are a range of things on which I, and our UK Government, do not agree with President Trump as do many people across Scotland, some of whom have used their right to protest to make their views known during the visit.
“I felt, though, it was right to greet President Trump on his arrival and to wish him well for his visit here.’’
Mr Mundell shook hands and spoke with the president — who was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump — after Air Force One landed slightly later than scheduled around 8.30pm.
The couple later travelled to the Trump Turnberry resort on the Ayrshire coast for the final part of their four-day visit to the UK.
Recalling his conversation with the president, Mr Mundell said: “He explained to me how much he enjoyed visiting Scotland and how pleased he was to now come here as president. He obviously feels strongly about his mother’s Scottish heritage. He was looking forward to playing golf at the Turnberry resort and hoping the course was not too dry.”
We sounded out a number of Lanarkshire politicians about the president’s visit — Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley, Hamilton West MP Gerard Killen; and Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina Mckelvie.
I felt, though, it was right to greet President Trump on his arrival Scotland and the US share fundamental values