Trump's Sharp Critique: A Lasting Vendetta Against Sturgeon

In a bold statement during his recent trip to Scotland, Donald Trump labeled Nicola Sturgeon as a ”terrible first minister”, delivering a biting critique of the former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader. Trump’s remarks came after his four-day visit to Scotland where he interacted with current first minister John Swinney, praising his performance while disparaging Sturgeon, who resigned in 2023 after over eight years in office.

In conversations with reporters on Air Force One, Trump expressed his strong disapproval of Sturgeon, stating he could not hold her in high regard, which triggered a sardonic response from Sturgeon. She referred to the feeling as mutual and humorously noted it was too late to feature Trump’s endorsement on her upcoming memoir due next month.

During his dinner with Swinney, discussions included an appeal to exempt Scotch whisky from US tariffs, although Trump later claimed tariffs were not a primary topic of conversation. His admiration for Swinney’s abilities as first minister stood in stark contrast to his contempt for Sturgeon.

Historically, Sturgeon was critical of Trump following his election in 2016, labeling his actions as abhorrent. Their contentious relationship included Sturgeon rescinding Trump’s status as a Scottish business ambassador, with Trump retaliating by calling her a ”woke extremist” upon her resignation.

Trump’s visit to Scotland also included meetings with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and discussions with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, where they negotiated a new tariff deal. Despite aiming barbs at figures like London Mayor Sadiq Khan during this trip, Trump refrained from any negative comments toward Starmer and Swinney, indicating a level of respect for their current leadership while consistently refusing to let go of past grievances with Sturgeon.