John Swinney's unexpected friendship with US President Donald Trump was cemented during a dinner of langoustine and beef at Trump's golf club in Balmedie. The First Minister sat next to the President, charming and flattering the leader of the free world while exchanging anecdotes about the late Sir Sean Connery and gently lobbying to exempt the whisky industry from crippling tariffs.
Keir Starmer left the dinner early, leaving Swinney with two hours of face time at the private event — more than the Prime Minister. Swinney was then invited to a family breakfast the next morning with Trump's sons, Don Jnr and Eric. At one point, Swinney showed Trump a picture of his teenage son Matthew playing golf in Tiree, prompting Trump to comment on the boy's “beautiful” swing.
Trump later described Swinney as a “really special guy” and, to the surprise of Swinney's advisers, claimed the First Minister “loves golf”. This bromance is remarkable given Trump's earlier criticism of Swinney for endorsing Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Eric Trump had said Swinney “read the temperature very wrong” and was “fairly nasty”.
The relationship is even more surprising given the stark political differences between the two. Trump hates tax, loathes renewable energy, and is scornful of trans rights, while Swinney has backed income tax rises, supported offshore wind projects, and defended law changes to help trans people. Swinney is exactly the sort of politician Trump routinely denounces as “crazy left”.
Swinney avoided the public humiliation that Trump inflicted on President Zelensky by learning from that incident. He thanked Trump for his family's investment in Scotland and for providing aid to Gaza. Older hands also suggest Trump's long memory may play a role: in 2007, Swinney, as SNP Finance Secretary, called in Trump's application for the Aberdeenshire golf development after local council opposition, and the project was approved.
As a result of the dinner, Swinney believes there is an outside chance that the US will reduce tariffs on whisky ahead of a second state visit in September. He plans to take his case to the US ambassador to the UK, concluding that Starmer has not prioritised the whisky industry in trade deal discussions.
