Donald Trump has met First Minister John Swinney to discuss whisky tariffs and the situation in Gaza as his four-day visit to Scotland draws to a close.
A Scottish government source said the two leaders had a “very good conversation” which lasted between 15 and 20 minutes on the US president’s Balmedie Estate earlier.
Following the meeting, Swinney told BBC Scotland News that he believes the North Sea oil and gas industry is being “overtaxed”.
Trump later opened a new course at his Aberdeenshire golf resort and called Swinney a “terrific guy” during the ceremony. He told the crowd how his Lewis-born mother returned to her homeland “religiously” every year after she emigrated to New York aged 18.
Trump said: “We love Scotland.”
The president said he would play a round on his new golf course “very quickly” before returning to Washington DC to “put out fires all over the world”.
He added: “We’ve stopped about five wars. That’s much more important than playing golf.”
The US president raised the issue of oil and gas taxation during his meeting with Swinney.
Earlier on his Truth Social platform, Trump called North Sea oil a “treasure chest for the United Kingdom” and said taxes were too high on oil and gas production.
The Scottish government previously supported a windfall tax on the profits of various energy companies, but it has become increasingly critical of the impact the levies are having on oil and gas producers.
After his meeting with Trump, Swinney told BBC Scotland News the industry was “overtaxed”.
He would not be drawn on whether there should be a “presumption against” new oil and gas exploitation, arguing that the key point is that any new extraction must be compatible with climate change targets.
On whisky tariffs, Swinney said: “When the president came to Scotland at the end of last week, I think his view was that the trade deal with the UK was done and dusted.
Credit: bbc.com
