John Swinney to meet with Donald Trump after US president's Scotland visit confirmed

Amid weeks of speculation that the US president would return to the country of his mother’s birth for the first time since 2023, the UK government announced on Monday that Mr Trump will be coming to Scotland towards the end of July.

Mr Trump will also meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his say. Exact details of the visit have not been disclosed, but it is understood that Mr Trump plans to visit his inaugural Scottish golf resort in Aberdenshire, where a second course named after his mother is set to be officially opened next month. The 79 year-old may also visit his resort in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, as part of the trip.

Work on a vast security operation for Mr Trump’s visit is already underway, with taxpayers expected to pick up a multimillion pound bill for policing as a result.

Confirmation of the visit came at a lobby briefing in Westminster on Monday. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The White House has confirmed that President Trump will be making a private visit to Scotland later this month.

"Given he is visiting a private capacity, there will not be a formal bilateral but the prime minister is pleased to take up the president's invite to meet during his stay."

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The Scottish Government also said that Mr Swinney would be meeting Mr Trump, although it is unclear if the US president invited the first minister, or vice versa, with further details expected to be confirmed in due course.

A spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government has been working collaboratively on arrangements with partners including Police Scotland on the visit of the president of the United States.

“There are plans for the first minister to meet with the president when he is in Scotland. It is important that the opportunity to promote the interests of Scotland is taken during this visit.”

Opposition politicians and business leaders in Scotland had called on Mr Swinney to engage with the US president and ensure that Scotland’s interests are represented.

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative shadow finance and local government secretary, said: “Key Scottish businesses suffered the last time President Trump introduced tariffs, so it is vital that John Swinney seizes this opportunity to stand up for their interests.”

Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said a visit from the sitting US president was a “major opportunity to strengthen Scotland’s economic ties with the world’s biggest economy.”

However, the Scottish Greens have said there is “no way” that Mr Trump should be welcomed in Scotland, with Partrick Harvie, the party’s co-leadr, describing him as a “convicted felon and political extremist who has shown a complete lack of respect for human rights and democracy in America and around the world.”

Police Scotland have said they will seek the government’s help with the costs of the Trump visit, after it emerged last week that the force was in the early stages of planning for a visit. The force’s deputy chief constable, Alan Speirs, said last week that the cost of a visit by Mr Trump would be “considerable.”

Mr Trump's last presidential visit in 2018 prompted a major security operation and large protests in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and London.

Police Scotland’s bill for covering Mr Trump’s Turnberry visit to Scotland during his first term in office was £3.2 million, around half of which was accounted for by overtime payments. The force had to build watchtowers and temporary barriers, as well as perimeter patrols at Turnberry and Prestwick Airport. The overall policing bill around the UK for the 2018 visit was nearly £18m.

It is understood there will be no private meeting with King Charles. However, Mr Trump will make a full state visit to the UK later this year.

The visit will take place from 17 September to 19 September, Buckingham Palace has confimed. Mr Trump will be hosted by the king and queen at Windsor Castle and accompanied by his wife, Melania.

Anti-Trump campaigners are to stage a mass demonstration in central London on the first day of the state visit. The Stop Trump Coalition is also planning further protests, including one near Windsor Castle.

Demonstrators plan to assemble at London's Embankment at 2pm on 17 September before march to a rally taking place in the evening at an as-yet undisclosed location. Other protests, are set to be confirmed once more details of Mr Trump's visit are known.

In a statement on X, the group urged people to join the initial protest, stating: “Let’s make it absolutely massive.”

There had been speculation about whether Mr Trump would be able to address the UK parliament, as French president Emmanuel Macron did during his state visit last week. However, MPs will not be around during the conrmed dates, which fall just after they start a break for party conference season.

The occasion in September will be Mr Trump’s second state visit, having been hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 during his first term in office. Such a decision is unprecedented, with second-term US leaders typically invited for tea or lunch with the monarch.

Asked for Sir Keir's view on the president addressing parliament, the prime minister's ocial spokesman said: "The prime minister is focused on welcoming President Trump to the UK for an historic second state visit and building on the excellent relationship they've had that's been delivering for working people.”

Sir Keir previously presented the US president with a letter from the king as he invited him for the visit during a meeting at the White House.