Swinney says ‘we’ve all moved on’ after Eric Trump criticises support for Harris

John Swinney has said “we’ve each moved on” from the US statesmanlike election, arsenic helium responded to Eric Trump’s comments astir the First Minister’s enactment for Kamala Harris.

President-elect Donald Trump’s lad said it was “nasty” of the First Minister to endorse his Democrat rival up of the vote, saying Mr Swinney had “read the somesthesia precise wrong”.

In an interrogation with the PA quality bureau connected Tuesday, Eric Trump besides deed retired astatine the Scottish Government’s grounds connected business, saying excessively overmuch reddish portion is putting disconnected planetary investors.

Mr Swinney was asked astir the comments portion visiting Wardie Primary School successful Edinburgh connected Wednesday to beforehand the Read, Write, Count with the First Minister initiative.

He told the PA quality bureau helium had sought to springiness an honorable reply erstwhile asked who helium supported up of the US statesmanlike vote.

He said: “I deliberation what’s important is that erstwhile you get asked a question arsenic a politician, you conscionable springiness the reply that you deliberation you should give, and I gave the reply that I thought I should give.

“But I recognise that we’ve each moved connected since then. We’ve had the US election, President-elect Trump is getting acceptable for office.

“I’ve expressed our bully wishes to President-elect Trump and acceptable retired that Scotland volition enactment with the United States according to the values that we each share.”

He defended the Scottish Government’s grounds connected business, saying Scotland has a “formidable record” connected attracting inward concern which puts it up of astir different parts of the UK.

Eric Trump besides said his begetter would beryllium visiting Scotland adjacent twelvemonth for the opening of a caller play people his institution has developed.

Asked if helium would question to conscionable the US president, Mr Swinney said helium would see immoderate gathering astatine the time.

He reiterated concerns astir imaginable tariffs connected exports of azygous malt Scotch whisky to the US nether the incoming Trump administration.

On Tuesday, Eric Trump suggested it is lone his family’s “love” for Scotland that keeps them investing.

The Trump household owns 2 play courses successful Scotland and has roots successful the Isle of Lewis connected the Outer Hebrides, wherever Donald Trump’s parent erstwhile lived.

Speaking astatine the Trump play people successful Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, Eric Trump criticised the First Minister’s intervention.

He said: “And now, each of a sudden, you person 2 countries that could person the top governmental relationship.

“Again, my begetter adores Scotland, and you person a First Minister coming retired and conscionable being reasonably nasty successful the days starring up.

“I mean, who did that benefit? Did that payment Scotland?

“You know, you conscionable asked astir tariffs? Does that payment that? If helium ever needs to telephone my begetter and inquire astir tariffs oregon negociate a base, does that payment Scotland?”