President Donald Trump will be given a “warm welcome” by the UK Government when he arrives in Scotland this Friday, according to Scottish Secretary Ian Murray.
The US President—currently serving his second term in the White House—is expected to spend part of his four-day visit at his two Scottish golf resorts, in Aberdeenshire and South Ayrshire. The PA news agency understands Mr Murray will be among the officials greeting President Trump as Air Force One touches down.
Meetings with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney are also anticipated during the visit, although official timings have yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Mr Murray said the UK would uphold diplomatic protocols and acknowledge the enduring relationship between the two nations.
“Of course it’s a warm welcome,” he said.
“We would always have a warm welcome for the president of the United States.“The office of the president of the United States and the office of the Prime Minister are ones that work very, very closely together, and should do, because it’s in our national interest to do so.
“We should make sure those relationships are in place because it’s important for our defence, our security, our economy – especially for jobs – and it’s really, really important to the finer details of the US trade deal that’s been done.”
Mr Murray’s remarks come despite his support for a 2019 House of Commons motion—made while in opposition—which accused then-President Trump of “misogynism, racism and xenophobia”. The motion was also backed at the time by current Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Pressed on the apparent contradiction, Mr Murray did not directly address his prior stance, instead reiterating the responsibilities of government office and the importance of international relations.
He noted that the Scottish Secretary has a “duty” to formally welcome visiting foreign leaders, regardless of political differences.
His position has drawn criticism from opposition benches. Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie accused Mr Murray of political inconsistency.
“Ian Murray has no credible explanation for his U-turn,” Mr Bowie said.
“So let me help him: in 2019 he was shamelessly playing to the gallery like a student politician, whereas today he is a Government minister forced to get real and behave like a grown-up.“I’m glad that Ian Murray has belatedly recognised how vital it is for Scotland to welcome, and work constructively with, the US president – but he’d have more credibility if he put his hands up and owned his past juvenile opportunism.”
President Trump’s return to the UK is expected to be met with protest in parts of Scotland, with concerns mounting over the strain on police resources. Additional officers are reportedly being requested from other forces across the UK.
The Scottish Police Federation has warned that normal policing duties may be “seriously affected” during the high-profile visit.
However, First Minister John Swinney moved to reassure the public, saying earlier this week that Trump’s presence in Scotland would not place police operations in a “detrimental position”.
The President’s visit underscores the renewed emphasis on US–UK cooperation in a politically shifting global landscape, with Downing Street keen to ensure stability and continued dialogue on trade, defence, and economic ties.
