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| Donald Trump discusses whisky tariffs and Gaza with John Swinney | Donald Trump discusses whisky tariffs and Gaza with John Swinney |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| President Trump's new course is his third in Scotland, after the Old Course at Menie and Turnberry | President Trump's new course is his third in Scotland, after the Old Course at Menie and Turnberry |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | 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". | 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. | He added: "We've stopped about five wars. |
| "That's much more important than playing golf." | "That's much more important than playing golf." |
| John Swinney attended the opening of the golf course after the talks in Balmedie | John Swinney attended the opening of the golf course after the talks in Balmedie |
| 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. | 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. |
| "I was setting out to him a very unique circumstance around Scotch whisky which can only be produced in Scotland. | "I was setting out to him a very unique circumstance around Scotch whisky which can only be produced in Scotland. |
| "It's not something that can be relocated somewhere else. | "It's not something that can be relocated somewhere else. |
| "I was pointing out the significance of that point and appealing to his sentiment about being very positive about Scotland - which he is - to try to get to a better position." | "I was pointing out the significance of that point and appealing to his sentiment about being very positive about Scotland - which he is - to try to get to a better position." |
| Swinney also said the president had recently signalled "growing awareness and unease" about the situation in Gaza. | Swinney also said the president had recently signalled "growing awareness and unease" about the situation in Gaza. |
| The first minister said it was a source of "heartbreak" in Scotland and urged the president to use his influence on the Israeli government to secure a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid. | The first minister said it was a source of "heartbreak" in Scotland and urged the president to use his influence on the Israeli government to secure a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid. |
| Eric Trump was present at the meeting while Donald Trump Jr attended at the start and end. | Eric Trump was present at the meeting while Donald Trump Jr attended at the start and end. |
| Trump hit the first tee shot after cutting a red ribbon to officially open the new course | Trump hit the first tee shot after cutting a red ribbon to officially open the new course |
| In a visit dominated by trade discussions with the European Union, Trump has already played golf at his Turnberry resort, where he welcomed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday. | In a visit dominated by trade discussions with the European Union, Trump has already played golf at his Turnberry resort, where he welcomed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday. |
| The pair then flew to RAF Lossiemouth on Air Force One, before being joined by the first minister for dinner at the Trump resort at Balmedie, near Aberdeen. | The pair then flew to RAF Lossiemouth on Air Force One, before being joined by the first minister for dinner at the Trump resort at Balmedie, near Aberdeen. |
| The BBC has been told Swinney spent more than an hour in conversation with Trump on Monday night. | The BBC has been told Swinney spent more than an hour in conversation with Trump on Monday night. |
| The pair were seated next to each other for the meal - which included a starter of langoustine and a main course of beef - and "discussed at length critical issues such as whisky," according to a senior Scottish government source. | The pair were seated next to each other for the meal - which included a starter of langoustine and a main course of beef - and "discussed at length critical issues such as whisky," according to a senior Scottish government source. |
| Trump was joined on the course by 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley | Trump was joined on the course by 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley |
| Swinney is seeking an exemption for Scotch from a 10% tax, known as a tariff, imposed on UK exports to the US. | Swinney is seeking an exemption for Scotch from a 10% tax, known as a tariff, imposed on UK exports to the US. |
| The spirit makes up a quarter of all UK food and drink exports according to the Scotch Whisky Association. | The spirit makes up a quarter of all UK food and drink exports according to the Scotch Whisky Association. |
| The trade body said around a fifth of all Scotch whisky is exported to the US - a market worth £971m in 2024 - and the tariffs are currently costing the industry £4m a week. | The trade body said around a fifth of all Scotch whisky is exported to the US - a market worth £971m in 2024 - and the tariffs are currently costing the industry £4m a week. |
| The Scottish government source said there was a "window of opportunity" between now and Trump returning to the UK for a state visit in September to make progress on reducing the tariff. | The Scottish government source said there was a "window of opportunity" between now and Trump returning to the UK for a state visit in September to make progress on reducing the tariff. |
| Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer are welcomed by bagpipers in Aberdeenshire on Monday evening | Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer are welcomed by bagpipers in Aberdeenshire on Monday evening |
| Ahead of the trip, the White House said talks between the president and prime minister would deal with elements of the trade deal between the countries. | Ahead of the trip, the White House said talks between the president and prime minister would deal with elements of the trade deal between the countries. |
| Despite the trade deal being agreed, a 10% tariff remains on Scotch whisky, one of the country's biggest exports. | Despite the trade deal being agreed, a 10% tariff remains on Scotch whisky, one of the country's biggest exports. |
| Asked if that tariff could be dropped or eliminated as a result of the meeting with the prime minister, Trump said: "We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker, but maybe I should be." | Asked if that tariff could be dropped or eliminated as a result of the meeting with the prime minister, Trump said: "We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker, but maybe I should be." |
| The new course will be the second at Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire resort | The new course will be the second at Donald Trump's Aberdeenshire resort |
| President Trump also used the media conference at Turnberry to hit out at wind turbines, which he branded "ugly monsters". | President Trump also used the media conference at Turnberry to hit out at wind turbines, which he branded "ugly monsters". |
| He is a long-standing critic of turbines and previously lost a legal battle to block a wind farm from being built opposite his golf club in Aberdeenshire. | He is a long-standing critic of turbines and previously lost a legal battle to block a wind farm from being built opposite his golf club in Aberdeenshire. |
| Trump said: "Wind is the most expensive form of energy and it destroys the beauty of your fields, your plains and your waterways. | Trump said: "Wind is the most expensive form of energy and it destroys the beauty of your fields, your plains and your waterways. |
| "Wind needs massive subsidy, and you are paying in Scotland and in the UK, and all over the place, massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place." | "Wind needs massive subsidy, and you are paying in Scotland and in the UK, and all over the place, massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place." |
| Instead, the president urged the UK to exploit North Sea oil and gas. | Instead, the president urged the UK to exploit North Sea oil and gas. |
| "When we go to Aberdeen, you'll see some of the ugliest windmills you've ever seen, the height of a 50-storey building," Trump said. | "When we go to Aberdeen, you'll see some of the ugliest windmills you've ever seen, the height of a 50-storey building," Trump said. |
| "You can take 1,000 times more energy out of a hole in the ground this big," he added, gesturing with his hands. | "You can take 1,000 times more energy out of a hole in the ground this big," he added, gesturing with his hands. |
| "It's called oil and gas, and you have it there in the North Sea." | "It's called oil and gas, and you have it there in the North Sea." |
| Trump played golf on his Turnberry course on Saturday morning | Trump played golf on his Turnberry course on Saturday morning |
| The prime minister said the UK government believed in a mix of energy. | The prime minister said the UK government believed in a mix of energy. |
| "Obviously, oil and gas is going to be with us for a very long time, and that'll be part of the mix, but also wind, solar, increasingly nuclear, which is what we've been discussing," he said. | "Obviously, oil and gas is going to be with us for a very long time, and that'll be part of the mix, but also wind, solar, increasingly nuclear, which is what we've been discussing," he said. |
| The president's visit was described as a "private" trip and - unusually for such events - combined politics with business and his love of golf. | The president's visit was described as a "private" trip and - unusually for such events - combined politics with business and his love of golf. |
| It has involved a major police operation in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire and enhanced policing for protest marches in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. | It has involved a major police operation in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire and enhanced policing for protest marches in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. |
| On Monday Police Scotland "engaged" with a boat off the coast of Aberdeenshire, near the Balmedie golf resort. | On Monday Police Scotland "engaged" with a boat off the coast of Aberdeenshire, near the Balmedie golf resort. |
| Footage showed the boat - which had a Palestinian flag - being followed in the water by police but officers said no action was necessary. | Footage showed the boat - which had a Palestinian flag - being followed in the water by police but officers said no action was necessary. |
| Trump has often credited his late mother with his decision to invest in his Scottish resorts. | Trump has often credited his late mother with his decision to invest in his Scottish resorts. |
| He has been a regular visitor to his courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire over the past decade. | He has been a regular visitor to his courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire over the past decade. |
| The president will return to the UK in September for a state visit, when he will stay with the King at Windsor Castle. | The president will return to the UK in September for a state visit, when he will stay with the King at Windsor Castle. |