Green councillors urge Edinburgh City Council to reject Donald Trump state visit

Green councillors have urged Edinburgh City Council to reject a second state visit for US President Donald Trump to the UK.

They have lodged a motion calling for members and officers to boycott any visit and to ensure that no council budgets are used in hosting the occasion.

The motion, which will be debated on Thursday, condemns Trump’s “emerging fascist state”.

It states: “Edinburgh Council – its officers and members – will not, in any official capacity, be involved in a Donald Trump or JD Vance visit to Edinburgh and will not use its resources to support such a visit in any way.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer offered his American counterpart an “unprecedented” state visit last month as he attempts to build a relationship with him amid the threat of tariffs.

During his visit to the Oval Office, he presented Trump – whose mother is from the Isle of Lewis – with a letter from the King.

In it, Charles proposed a meeting to discuss details of the state visit at either Dumfries House or Balmoral.

Scottish Green councillor Alex Staniforth said Trump’s politics ran counter to the values of the nation’s capital.

Scottish Green councillor Alex Staniforth said: “Edinburgh is a welcoming and diverse city that stands with the communities being attacked by Donald Trump and the far right government that he leads.

“Donald Trump has shown a total contempt for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Our council does not have the power to stop him from visiting Edinburgh, but we can ensure that he is not given the warm welcome he craves.

“There are millions of people across the US and beyond who are frightened for their friends and family who are having their rights eroded or removed by this White House. Those are the people we are standing with.

“We hope that all parties will join us in condemning the planned state visit and rejecting Donald Trump and the politics he represents.”

Scottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater said: “Donald Trump is no friend of Edinburgh. He is a racist, misogynist with a contempt for human rights and democracy.

“I hope that the council will unite around this call by Edinburgh’s Green councillors and send a loud and clear message that Donald Trump is not welcome here.”