John Swinney has taken a swipe at Donald Trump’s opposition to Scottish independence as he endorsed Kamala Harris to become the next US president.

First Minister John Swinney has endorsed Kamala Harris becoming the next president of the United States, suggesting Donald Trump’s opposition to Scottish independence played a part in his conclusion.

Ms Harris and Mr Trump will face off next week in the election to replace Joe Biden in the White House.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) | AP

Mr Trump has Scottish connections with golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Turnberry in Ayrshire - but his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, is also from Lewis.

Mr Swinney was asked if he would back Mr Trump’s bid for a return to the White House, given his Scottish ties.

But unequivocally, Mr Swinney said: “People in the United States of America should vote for Kamala Harris.”

He added: “I’ve not come to that conclusion only because Donald Trump is opposed to Scottish independence.”

Earlier this week, Mr Trump said he hoped the UK “stays together” as he addressed Scottish independence. Speaking to comedian Andrew Schulz on his Flagrant podcast, Mr Trump was asked about the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Donald Trump pictured at the house in Tong, on the Isle of Lewis, where his mother was brought up before she emigrated to the United States. | PA

He said: “You know, they tried to break up Scotland from the rest of the empire, so to speak. And it made it by about like a half a point. They kept it together. So I hope it stays together. I hope it always stays together.”

In June, Mr Swinney committed to “engage with” Mr Trump if he does win the election to “fulfil my duties as First Minister".

He said: “The people of Scotland would expect me to do that to any other democratically elected leader of a country.

"Having said that, I am no fan of Donald Trump and I think Donald Trump has done huge damage to democratic civilised debate, so I'd really rather he was not the president of the United States.

"But if he becomes the president of the United States, I've got duties as First Minister that I've got to fulfil and I will fulfil [them] because people would expect me to."

Mr Trump fell out with former SNP first minister Alex Salmond over windfarm plans the former president claimed would impact his golf businesses.

That escalated when Mr Trump arrived at the Scottish Parliament in October 2012 to give evidence in person on the issue.

The Scottish Greens in particular have tabled measures to target Mr Trump, branding a proposed levy on private jets as a ‘Trump tax’. The party has also called for an investigation into Mr Trump’s financial dealings in Scotland.

Why John Swinney is backing Kamala Harris for president as Donald Trump has say on independence

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