JOHN MACLEOD: For all the President's kindness, is Swinney now a friend or just some sort of pet?

Daily Mail​

30-07-2025

Just scant months ago, John Swinney told massed MSPs he fervently hoped Kamala Harris would beat Donald Trump at the looming Presidential election.
Fortunately for the First Minister, when he finally met the leader of the free world at an Aberdeenshire banquet on Monday – langoustines, prime beef, a trio of desserts featuring Scottish fruits – he was not merely avalanched with charm but bidden to sit beside him.
Either Dòmhnall Iain, as we darkly refer to him in his ancestral Lewis, is a singularly thick-skinned chap of vast magnanimity – or, until he had been briefed earlier that day, had never in all his puff heard of John Swinney.
They discussed golf. And, more seriously, oil and gas taxation, exported salmon, and especially whisky.
Incredibly, Scotch whisky revenues account for a quarter of all British food and drink exports – and, months back, Trump slapped a 10% tariff on every bottle sold in these great United States.
It's costing the industry about £4 million a week and the consequences are already painful: earlier this summer, the Isle of Harris distillery laid off workers.
But that was Monday night: on Tuesday, in rather more formal conclave, Swinney was granted fifteen minutes alone with the President. And, from his perfervid soundbites on the evening news, almost all Scotland's First Minister had banged on about was Gaza.
''I implored President Trump to use his immense influence on the Israeli government to end the unbearable, unjust, and inhumane situation unfolding in Gaza,' strutted John Swinney, 'and to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis we are witnessing.'
Later, on social media, 'I set out the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and for humanitarian aid to flow, as well as the need to support Ukraine.
'Scotland's voice was heard loud and clear.'
Now international affairs are no part of the First Minister's remit. He helms a devolved, domestic administration with but domestic responsibilities, many of which, of late, have been managed very badly.
And the persistent yip of this SNP administration that it speaks, and as one, for the people of Scotland is one of its most irritating features.
In any event, Scotland boasts no diplomats on Middle Eastern soil, Swinney receives no detailed daily briefings of the type laid before, for instance, the King and the Prime Minister.
In truth he is driven less by informed reflection than panicked flight before the social-media hysterics of his own activists.
Why do hardcore SNP supporters so detest what is the only democracy in the Middle East? The only state with full-blown women's rights and, indeed, gay rights
Fortunately for the First Minister, Donald Trump alighted at Prestwick Airport the other day determined to be all love and cuddles.
'It's great to be in Scotland,' he declared. 'I like your prime minister. He's slightly more liberal than I am - as you probably heard - but he's a good man. He got a trade deal done.'
As for John Swinney, he – too – was a 'good man.' And, as he arrived at his Turnberry retreat – no doubt all ankle-deep carpets and gilded vulgarity – the President, unperturbed by a handful of protesters, even toasted OO7's aid in securing these golfing enterprises.
'Sean Connery helped get me the permits - if it weren't for Sean Connery we wouldn't have those great courses.'
Yet Trump railed against wind-turbines, damned mass-migration as a 'horrible invasion' that was 'killing Europe,' and could not resist a swipe at his ailing predecessor.
His administration, declared the President, had taken out 'a lot of bad people that got there with (former US president Joe) Biden. 'Biden was a total stiff, and what he allowed to happen.... but you're allowing it to happen to your countries…'
Visits to Scotland by a serving US President are rare. Dwight Eisenhower enjoyed a Balmoral stay in 1957, subsequently sought the Queen's recipe for drop-scones and was granted (for life, by a grateful nation) an apartment in Culzean Castle.
George W Bush dropped by in 2005 for the Gleneagles G8 summit and Trump himself made a flying visit in 2018. Reagan and Clinton only came here in retirement.
But Trump stands out for his extraordinarily unfiltered personality. Time in close proximity to The Donald would daunt the stoutest spirit and there was more than a hint of relief in John Swinney's remarks afterwards.
The President had been 'pleasant company,' the First Minister assured reporters. They had enjoyed 'perfectly valuable and courteous conversations.'
What Swinney could not bring himself to do – oh, dear, those cyberNats again at the back of his mind – was say, or at least pretend, that he him.
'I appreciated the time and opportunity to engage with [Trump] as I would with any world leader that came to Scotland,' insisted the SNP leader. Pushed firmly on the point, 'my personal feelings about people are irrelevant.'
Given, too, Trump's love of building, infrastructure and bright ideas, Swinney shrewdly presented him with a proposal to provide Edinburgh Airport with US Customs pre-clearance facilities.
This, carolled the First Minister, would help to 'demonstrate the strength of America's enduring relationship with its friend and partner, Scotland.'
There has been an unfortunate tendency among recent SNP leaders to overestimate Scotland's international standing or overlook some unfortunate nuancing.
The Tartan Day thing in the States – strongest in the old Confederacy, which had enjoyed heavy Scottish and indeed Highland settlement in the 1700s - had unhappy whiffs of the old segregationist Right.
And when Nicola Sturgeon was politely feted in Dublin in November 1916 – not that Taoiseach Enda Kenny risked being photographed with her – members of the Irish Senate could barely hide their boredom as she formally addressed them.
The real takeaway from President Trump's recent Scottish jolly is, perhaps, his unexpected kindness.
He was not obliged to seat John Swinney on equal terms with Sir Keir Starmer, grant him a private audience the following day or give his appearance of hanging on his every word as they stuck into rare beef.
All Swinney had to do in return was feign some sort of enthusiasm about golf. As if his cup did not already overflow, Starmer had to leave this love-in early and, unexpectedly, Swinney was invited the following morning to join the Trumps for breakfast.
He was even emboldened to show the President a snap of young Matthew Swinney playing golf on Tiree. He had a 'beautiful swing,' enthused The Donald.
There followed that private meeting. But did Swinney part from his new acquaintance as President Trump's friend? Or, really, just as a sort of pet?