Scotland’s First Minister has faced widespread criticism after attempting to take credit for Donald Trump’s decision to lift US tariffs on Scotch whisky.
John Swinney, the leader of the SNP, expressed his pleasure over the removal of the 10 percent tariffs in the United States, stating he was ‘delighted’ with the development.
The SNP heralded this as proof of the First Minister’s efforts for Scotland, declaring, “John Swinney fought for Scotch whisky. And he delivered.”
However, both Swinney and the SNP faced ridicule when it was revealed that Trump had attributed the decision to remove the tariffs on Scotch whisky to the King and Queen.
In a social media post, the US President announced the news, stating that the move was made in “honor” of Charles and Camilla following their state visit to America this week.
“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!” Trump added.
Mr Swinney’s political rivals were swift to lampoon the SNP leader by suggesting he had also taken credit for the moon landings, and Scotland qualifying for the World Cup.
Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Tories, quipped: ‘That he did all this while masterminding the D-Day landings and being the first to identify all of Saturn’s rings, is what makes these achievements truly remarkable…’
John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, is being widely derided after he attempted to claim credit for Donald Trump lifting US tariffs on Scotch whisky
Both Mr Swinney and his SNP party were mocked as it was pointed out Donald Trump had given full credit for the removal of US tariffs on Scotch whisky to King Charles
The First Minister was ridiculed after an SNP post on X that hailed Mr Swinney’s involvement in the lifting of tariffs was subject to a ‘community note’ on the social media site.
It read: ‘John Swinney nor the SNP negotiated the deal with USA. It was the King.’
Mr Swinney had shared the original post by his party, adding the message: ‘Delighted with this news.’
Murdo Fraser, a former Scottish Tory deputy leader who is hoping to be re-elected to the Scottish Parliament at next week’s elections, joined in with those mocking Mr Swinney on social media.
He posted: ‘BREAKING: John Swinney claims credit for the discovery of penicillin, the moon landings, and Scotland qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.’
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay hit out at the ‘nonsense John Swinney is spouting’ on the removal of tariffs.
He said: ‘John Swinney is lying, it is nothing to do with him. This is to do with the King going over there on a state visit that numerous parties, including the Lib Dems and the Greens, wanted not to happen.
‘Had it not happened, then this deal would not have happened, it is as simple as that.’
Douglas Alexander, the Scotland Secretary in the UK Government at Westminster, also swiped at Mr Swinney as the First Minister tried to defend himself amid the row.
The Labour Cabinet minister posted: ‘John you’ve been caught red-handed claiming credit for something you didn’t achieve. Now you’re doubling down. It’s embarrassing.
‘I get it doesn’t fit your world view that the UK Government was working for this whisky deal before, during and after your visit to DC but those are facts.’
However, it later emerged how Mr Trump told Mr Swinney his intervention formed a ‘very big part’ of his decision to scrap the tariffs.
Mr Swinney travelled to Washington DC last year to press the case for removing the tariffs in White House talks with Mr Trump.
In a note sent to the First Minister, ahead of the decision being announced on Thursday, the US President said: ‘Congratulations John – you were a very big part of my thinking on the matter of Scotland/Kentucky!’
The pair spoke for nine minutes on Friday afternoon, according to the SNP. In a statement released after the call, Mr Swinney said: ‘I was pleased to receive a call from the President of the United States this afternoon, which gave me the opportunity to thank him personally for ending the tariffs on Scotch whisky.
‘The president was clear that our discussions on the mutual benefit of this deal, and Scotland’s ability to work with the state of Kentucky, formed a very big part of his thinking.
‘He said that he was pleased to be able to do this for Scotland, together with His Majesty the King.’
In a social media post announcing the news, the US President said he was taking the action in ‘honour’ of Charles and Camilla after their state visit to America this week
The First Minister was ridiculed after an SNP post on X that hailed Mr Swinney’s involvement in the lifting of tariffs was subject to a ‘community note’ on the social media site
The SNP’s tweet was swiftly turned into a meme by social media users to lampoon Mr Swinney
Murdo Fraser, a former Scottish Tory deputy leader who is hoping to be re-elected to the Scottish Parliament at next week’s elections, joined in with those mocking Mr Swinney
Industry bosses have estimated that tariffs of 10 per cent in the US had been costing the whisky sector in Scotland about £4million a week in lost export.
This amounted to ‘£150 million in total over the last 12 months since the tariff has been in place’, said Graeme Littlejohn, of the Scotch Whisky Association.
Mr Littlejohn, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme the move was a ‘demonstration of the soft power of the monarch and what he can bring to the UK’.
Speaking about Charles, he added: ‘He is clearly passionate about the industry, he has visited many distilleries before.’
However he said that ‘months and months of work’ had taken place involving negotiators to get to this point.
Mr Littlejohn stated: ‘The King was the royal sparkle at the end of a lot of work to get a deal over the line here, this doesn’t happen overnight.’
Following Mr Trump’s announcement of the removal of the tariffs and restrictions on whisky, Buckingham Palace said the King ‘sends his sincere gratitude for a decision that will make an important difference to the British whisky industry and the livelihoods it supports’.
Despite their aim to break-up the UK by making Scotland an independent country, the SNP has insisted the King would remain as Scotland’s head of state.
