DONALD Trump is to face a hostile reception when he comes to Scotland next week, with no plans for the First Minister to meet the controversial US president.
The UK Government has confirmed Trump and his wife Melania will travel to Scotland next Friday evening, after meeting the Queen at Windsor Castle.
The president – whose mother was born on the Hebridean island of Lewis – and First Lady are expected to be in Scotland until Sunday.
A Scottish Government spokesman said while no talks are scheduled with the president, Sturgeon will “consider a meeting should one be proposed”.
The First Minister took a swipe at Trump over climate change ahead of Trump’s visit to his golf courses next week. She used a speech in London to stress the need for clean energy.
Careful not to mention the US president by name, the First Minister recalled his opposition to 11 wind turbines off the coast of Aberdeen.
She told the FutureFest conference: “A few years ago you might have heard of these turbines because a famous golf course owner from America who, I think, has now turned his hand to politics, decided to take the Scottish Government to court to try to block these wind turbines because he thought they spoiled the view from his new golf course. I’m very pleased to tell you today the Scottish government beat that American golf course owner in court.”
The 11 giant turbines there have just started generating electricity, with Sturgeon hailing them as “marvels of engineering”.
While the exact details of the visit are not yet known, it is widely expected Trump will play a round of golf at one of the two courses he owns in Scotland.
Police Scotland have already said his visit will require more than 5000 officers to police, at a cost of some £5 million – though this will be paid for by the UK Government.
Protest group Scotland Against Trump is organising a series of events to coincide with his visit. A rally is planned for Glasgow’s George Square on Friday evening, while on Saturday there will be a protest outside his Balmedie golf course.
A national demonstration is planned at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on the same day, along with a “Carnival of Resistance” in the Meadows area of the capital.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “President Trump is coming to the UK at the invitation of the UK Government.
However, the Scottish Government has been planning for some time with key partners, including Police Scotland, for the possibility of the president’s itinerary including a visit to Scotland.
“Scotland has deep and longstanding ties of family, friendship and business with the United States, which will continue to endure.
“At the same time, we will not compromise our fundamental values of equality, diversity and human rights, and we expect these values to be made clear during the presidential visit to the UK.”
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “The sight of mothers separated from babies and children caged like animals has horrified people across the globe, we should not be welcoming the man responsible.”
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