US President Donald Trump will get a “warm welcome” from the UK Government when his plane lands in Scotland on Friday, according to Scottish secretary Ian Murray.
During a four-day visit this weekend, Trump is expected to visit both of his golf courses in Scotland: Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire.
He will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and the Scottish Government has said plans are also being made for him to meet First Minister John Swinney.
Ahead of the anticipated visit, Murray told BBC Radio Scotland on Thursday that the UK will “of course” extend a “warm welcome” to the president.
“We would always have a warm welcome for the president of the United States,” Murray said on the radio.
“The office of the president of the United States and the office of the Prime Minister are ones that work very, very closely together, and should do, because it’s in our national interest to do so.
“We should make sure those relationships are in place because it’s important for our defence, our security, our economy – especially for jobs – and it’s really, really important to the finer details of the US trade deal that’s been done.”
In 2019, Murray backed a motion in the House of Commons – alongside foreign secretary David Lammy and health secretary Wes Streeting – accusing the president of “misogynism, racism and xenophobia”.
Pressed on his support for the motion, Murray did not answer. He said the Scottish secretary has a “duty” to welcome foreign dignitaries.
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