Donald Trump said he did not want to “get involved” in British domestic politics when asked for his opinion on plans for a second referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.
The US President was taking questions from journalists as he hosted Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire.
Trump referred to the suggestion that such a referendum could only take place once in a generation, telling reporters: “There was a little bit of a restriction, like 50 or 75 years, before you could take another vote because, you know, a country can’t go through that too much.”
Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born in Scotland and the President has said he has an affinity for the country which he described as “incredible” and “beautiful”.
Trump said he did not know Scottish First Minister John Swinney, but added: “I hear very good things about him, and I’m meeting him today, so maybe I’ll have a better opinion.”
On Monday, the First Minister said there should be a “legal referendum recognised by all” on Scottish independence if the SNP secures a majority at the Holyrood elections.
Asked whether an SNP majority was a high bar to clear, he said: “The way we break the logjam is to rely on the precedent that happened in 2011.”
Since the Brexit vote in 2016, repeated prime ministers have rebuffed the SNP’s calls for another Scottish independence referendum.
Sir Keir insisted Scotland was better off within the UK.
The Prime Minister said: “I think that at a time like this when it’s quite clear that there’s uncertainty and volatility around the world, the strength of the United Kingdom together is very important for all four nations, very important for Scotland, and that should be our priority.”
Swinney “should probably focus more” on delivery in Scotland than constitutional issues, Sir Keir added.
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