DONALD Trump has blasted First Minister John Swinney after he endorsed Kamala Harris as the next US president.
Mr Swinney called on Americans to vote for the Democrat nominee and insisted it has nothing to do with Trump opposing Scottish independence.
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He told journalists after First Minister’s Questions: “People in the United States of America should vote for Kamala Harris and I have not come to that conclusion only because Donald Trump is opposed to Scottish independence.”
Speaking on a podcast Mr Trump, 78, previously said he hopes the United Kingdom “always stays together”.
In an interview with comedian Andrew Schulz, he said: “You know, they tried to break up Scotland from the rest of the Empire, so to speak, and it made it by about like a half a point.
“They kept it together. So I hope it stays together. I hope it always stays together.”
Mr Trump’s representatives have now issued a scathing response to the First Minister’s comments, branding them an “insult to the massive investment in Scotland made by the Trump family”.
The Republican candidate owns golf resorts at Turnberry, Ayrshire, and Menie, Aberdeenshire.
In a statement, Sarah Malone, executive vice president of Trump International Scotland, said: “The Trump family has shown unwavering commitment to Scotland – pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the Scottish economy – and driving many tens of thousands of international visitors to Scotland every year.
“Around 600 people – the majority of whom are Scottish – are employed directly by Trump businesses and many more local and national businesses thrive on supplying services to our resorts.
“It is appalling to see the First Minister, who talks of the need to encourage economic growth, insult this commitment and all the people involved in delivering world-class services here in Scotland.”
Mr Trump described Scots as “very great people” on the podcast – and told of his Scottish mother Mary’s admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
His mum, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on the Isle of Lewis before moving to the US.
Mr Trump said: “She loved the Queen. Don’t forget, the Queen was great. The Queen honoured me before she died, she honoured me as the president in Buckingham Palace.”
He added: “My mother was from Stornoway, that’s really serious Scottish. But yeah, she was great.”
And on watching Mel Gibson’s Braveheart, Trump said: “I think Mel Gibson is a very good guy, I’ve met him a number of times.”
He went on to say he had been on a plane around six years ago with “absolutely nothing to do” and aides suggested movies including Braveheart.
Mr Trump said: “I said all right, let’s put that one on and within about four minutes I said ‘this may be the greatest movie I’ve ever seen’.
“I’m a Braveheart fan.”
