John Swinney has confirmed he has no intentions of meeting Donald Trump during his upcoming trip to the United States for the World Cup. The First Minister is set to travel across the Atlantic later this month as Scotland's men's national team makes its first appearance in the global football tournament in 28 years.
World Cup journey
Scotland will face Haiti in their opening match on June 14 in Boston. Swinney's visit coincides with the historic return of the team to the World Cup stage, marking a significant moment for Scottish football.
No White House meeting
Speaking to the Press Association on Wednesday, Swinney stated there has been no communication between the Scottish Government and the White House regarding a potential meeting with the US president. He said: “I don’t have any plans to visit the White House while I’m in the United States, no. There’s no dialogue taking place about that particular issue.”
The First Minister had previously built a strong rapport with Trump, meeting him multiple times last year, including at the president's Scottish golf courses. Swinney had been advocating for the removal of tariffs on Scotch whisky, and in April, Trump announced the 10% levy would be dropped, crediting Swinney as a “very big part” of that decision.
During a visit to a mental health charity in Glasgow on Wednesday, Swinney reiterated his stance, emphasising that his focus remains on supporting the Scottish team and promoting Scotland's interests during the trip, rather than engaging in political diplomacy.
