Trump got anti-media tips from Salmond
Anti-media tactics used by President Trump first originated in Scotland under the leadership of Alex Salmond, it has been claimed.
Author David Torrance says the president’s behaviour is the “culmination, rather than the origin” of the anti-media atmosphere which he argues happened first in Scotland.
The essay, The Scottish Provenance of Trump’s Approach To The Media, appears in a book called Trump’s Media War.
Mr Torrance says that the former First Minister had initially enjoyed a good relationship with the media, but argues there was a “deliberate strategy” on Mr Salmond’s part to begin launching attacks.
He says: “Following the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections, Alex Salmond began to display protoTrumpian characteristics now he led a majority, rather than a minority, administration.
“Having impressed even his critics with a statesmanlike approach to politics between 2007 and 2011, the Scottish National Party leader reverted to the previous form, a highly partisan, shoot-from-thehip, take-no-prisoners approach.”
A spokesman for Mr Salmond declined to comment on the essay.