Trump congratulates 'good man' Swinney on election result
The US President has shared his thoughts on Mr Swinney and the SNP’s election result
US president Donald Trump has described John Swinney as a “good man” as he congratulated him on his election win.
The SNP will remain Scotland’s largest party after winning 58 seats on Friday, a drop from the 64 MSPs elected for the party in 2021.
Mr Swinney had set his goal at winning an overall majority at Holyrood, saying that would provide a renewed mandate for a push for Scottish independence.
In a post on the Truth Social platform on Saturday, the US president said of Mr Swinney: “He is a good man, who worked very hard, along with the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, with respect to Tariff relief for Great Scottish Whiskey – and deserves this Big Electoral Victory!”
The First Minister had pushed hard for an end to Scotch whisky tariffs last year, with the president crediting him when the levies were eventually scrapped last month.
The issue caused a wrangle between Mr Swinney and the UK Government over who should receive the credit for the scrapping of the tariffs.
Mr Swinney travelled to the Oval Office last September to discuss the issue.
Last month, Mr Swinney turned down an invitation from Mr Trump to the state banquet at the White House, which was attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Mr Swinney "politely declined" the offer to join the event on April 28 given the First Minister’s campaigning commitments ahead of Thursday’s election.
Mr Swinney and Mr Trump dined together during the US President’s trip to his family’s golf course in Aberdeenshire last July.
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