Call for Nicola from Trump, man she said she would ban
‘A brief introductory conversation’
PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald Trump yesterday called Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the ‘longstanding relationship’ between the United States and Scotland.
The conversation was apparently a ‘brief introductory’ between the First Minister and the next American leader.
It came only weeks after Miss Sturgeon said she found the businessman’s views ‘really abhorrent’ and that she hoped he would not be elected into office.
But following his shock win in November, she sent a letter to the Republican congratulating him on his victory.
last night, the Scottish Government said the contents of the letter, in which the SNP leader also expressed her concern over values such as human rights and tolerance, were discussed during the call.
The brief conversation came only a year after Miss Sturgeon stripped Mr Trump of his role as business ambassador for Scotland following his controversial call for a ban on Muslims entering the US.
In 2015, she also urged then home secretary Theresa May to consider using antiextremism laws to block him from the UK.
Mr Trump is set to become the 45th President of the US after beating Democrat candidate Hillary clinton in last month’s election.
During the campaign, Miss Sturgeon repeatedly made clear she was supporting Mrs clinton, as did other party leaders in Scotland. Since his win, Mr Trump has spoken to a number of political leaders and has had two phone conversations with Prime Minister Mrs May.
He has also held a meeting at his New York home with former Ukip leader and MEP Nigel Farage, who helped his campaign earlier this year.
But last night it was the First Minister’s turn to speak to Mr Trump. According to the Scottish Government the pair discussed the relationship between Scotland and the US, while Miss Sturgeon expressed her ‘belief in the values’ shared by the two countries.
A spokesman said: ‘The President-elect of the United States called the First Minister on Friday for a brief introductory conversation.
‘The First Minister offered her congratulations and, reflecting on the letter she sent him following the election, expressed her belief in the values that Scotland and the United States share.
‘The First Minister and the President-elect also discussed the longstanding relationship between Scotland and the United States.’
Mr Trump’s election campaign drew strong reactions from across the political sphere for his comments on faith, his promise to build a wall along the US-Mexico border and his plans to make Mexico pay for this.
Speaking before the election, Miss Sturgeon said she found his views ‘really abhorrent’, adding: ‘I really hope that Donald Trump does not become President. It’s not up to me, it’s not up to us, it’s up to the people of America.
‘I actually believe that the good sense of the American people – a great country, great people – will prevail here and we won’t have the particular issue to confront that you spoke about.’
Reacting to Mr Trump’s victory last month, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘While this is not the outcome I hoped for, it is the verdict of the American people and we must respect it.’
last night, BBc presenter Andrew Neil tweeted: ‘Some consternation about Trump call to Sturgeon but quite a tribute to Scotland. Bet he hasn’t called any other leader of devolved parliament.
‘Trump sources who alerted me to Sturgeon call said he thought it right thing to do given Scottish roots. Scottish sources say call went well.’
It is not known if Mr Trump has spoken to the leaders of Wales and Northern Ireland. However, he is often eager to promote his strong ties to Scotland.
His mother, Mary Macleod, was born on the Hebridean island of lewis in 1912.
She left at the age of 18 for New York where she met and married Fred Trump.
Mr Trump has often spoken about his Scottish heritage and in 2006 he bought the Menie Estate in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, turning it into a golf resort against the wishes of local residents.
In April 2014, the 70-year-old US tycoon also purchased the Turnberry hotel and golf resort in Ayrshire.
The businessman lost a legal challenge to the Scottish Government over an offshore wind farm development near his Aberdeenshire resort.