Secret talks could tee up summit for Trump and Nicola
Discussions ‘from both sides’ over Scottish visit
DISCUSSIONS are under way to arrange an 11th-hour meeting between Donald Trump and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Following weeks of speculation as to whether or not Miss Sturgeon – who has described Mr Trump’s views as ‘repugnant and reprehensible’ – would roll out the red carpet for the US President, White House sources admitted there were plans to organise talks.
The Scottish Government remained tight-lipped last night but reasserted the country’s ‘deep and longstanding ties of family, friendship and business with the United States’.
Mr Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, will head north of the Border on Friday to spend the weekend at his golf resort at Turnberry, Ayrshire, following a meetnight:
‘People are talking behind the scenes’
ing with the Queen at Windsor Castle. He is not expected to carry out any official engagements in Scotland and will base himself at Trump Turnberry due to its proximity to Prestwick Airport, where Air Force One will land. It is understood he will not visit his mother’s birthplace on the Isle of Lewis.
Protests are expected at the luxury golf course Mr Trump owns in Aberdeenshire, along with ‘anti-Trump’ rallies in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
It is not known if Miss Sturgeon will invite Mr Trump to her official Bute House residence in Edinburgh, where she has recently entertained Catalonia’s new President Quim Torra and President Mutharika of Malawi, both controversial figures.
A well-placed source close to the White House told the MoS last ‘There are discussions under way to get the two together when the President arrives in Scotland but nothing is finalised yet. People are talking from both sides behind the scenes.’
Although Miss Sturgeon has been a vocal opponent of Mr Trump, it would cement her international standing if the President did agree to a meeting.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it had been planning for the possibility of the President’s itinerary including a visit to Scotland, adding: ‘Scotland has deep and longstanding ties of family, friendship and business with the United States, which will continue to endure.
‘At the same time, we will not compromise our fundamental values of equality, diversity, and human rights and we expect these values to be made clear during the presidential visit to the UK. We would encourage those attending any protests to do so peacefully and safely.’
Mr Trump and Miss Sturgeon have never been close allies but their relationship became increasingly strained in 2015 when the First Minister stripped the billionaire of his role as a business ambassador for Scotland after he called for Muslims to be banned from the United States. Describing Mr Trump’s comments as ‘repugnant and reprehensible’, she said: ‘Being a GlobalScot is a very privileged position.
‘You effectively are a business ambassador for the country. I have made the simple judgment that someone who expresses the views that Donald Trump has is not suitable to be promoting Scotland abroad. I found so many of President-elect Trump’s comments to be deeply abhorrent and I never want to be – I am not ever prepared to be – a politician who maintains a diplomatic silence in the face of attitudes of racism, sexism, misogyny or intolerance of any kind.’
The President’s UK schedule appears to keep him out of the public eye and away from hostile demonstrators. Following his arrival on Thursday, he will visit Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for a black-tie dinner in his honour, attended by 100 leading figures in business and politics.
On Friday morning the President will join Prime Minister Theresa May to watch a military exercise before heading to Chequers for a working lunch. Following tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle, he will fly to Scotland, where he will stay for two nights.
‘Not suitable to promote Scotland abroad’