Donald Trump’s son Eric had a “very positive” meeting about investment and golf with First Minister John Swinney after landing in Scotland on Thursday morning.
Eric Trump said he had a “very warm and friendly” meeting with Swinney on Thursday at Bute House in Edinburgh.
Eric oversees the US President’s golf courses in Scotland and is visiting for business meetings. It was the first time the First Minister invited the President’s son to Bute House.
“We did not discuss Scottish or US politics but concentrated on golf,” Eric Trump said in a statement.
“It was a very positive and constructive meeting about business and investment.”
After the meeting, Eric Trump said Swinney thanked him for the Trump Organisation’s “ongoing colossal investment and commitment to Scotland”.
“This is the first time that I’ve heard those words from the First Minister and they were hugely appreciated,” he said.
“Our discussions focused solely on the Trump Organization’s commitment to creating in Trump Turnberry and Trump International in Aberdeenshire two of the most iconic golf destinations in the world.
Following the meeting, a Scottish Government spokesperson confirmed that Swinney welcomed Eric Trump to Bute House to discuss the contribution Trump International provides to Scotland’s economy.
“The First Minister regularly meets with business people regarding investment in Scotland,” the spokesperson said.
“The meeting with Mr Trump provided an opportunity to discuss Scotland’s investment potential and the First Minister was pleased to hear about the company’s continued commitment to Scotland, in particular Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire.”
Eric Trump touched down at Edinburgh Airport on Thursday morning in his father’s private jet.
The surprise meeting has come months after Eric Trump criticised Swinney as “nasty” for endorsing Kamala Harris during last year’s presidential election race and for the way Swinney had spoken about the current American president in interviews.
Since then, however, President Trump has taken office and has been invited to visit the UK, and Scotland in particular, by King Charles.
It was assumed that Eric Trump had come to visit the Trump Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire after it was vandalised in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Milo ChandlerThe luxury golf resort is run by the Trump Organisation, which Donald Trump owns.
Red paint could be seen thrown over the clubhouse while the greens were dug up and marker flags pulled down.
On Wednesday, police confirmed a 33-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the damage caused to the luxury golf resort.
He was released pending further enquiries.
Earlier this week, the owners of a shop on the Scottish island where Donald Trump’s mother grew up put up a banner protesting the US President.
Sarah Venus and her husband Peter, who own the shop Lewis Revival in Stornoway, have set up a banner reading “Shame on you, Donald John.”
The pair say they were prompted to unfurl their protest after Trump clashed with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office meeting on February 28.
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