![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_TOPSHOT-BRITAIN-SCOTLAND-US-TRUMP.jpg\")
Donald Trump at the International Golf Links course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire today. (Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\nMr Swinney said he had \u201ccourteous\u201d talks with Mr Trump but insisted tournament cash was not an attempt to ‘butter up’ the US President.<\/p>\n
18:07, 29 Jul 2025Updated 18:32, 29 Jul 2025<\/p>\n
Donald Trump at the International Golf Links course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire today. (Image: AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
John Swinney says funding for a golf tournament at Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> Aberdeenshire course was not an attempt to \u201cbutter up\u201d the US president.<\/p>\n The Scottish Government<\/a> announced on Saturday that \u00a3180,000 of public money would be spent to bring the Nexo Championship to Scotland next month.<\/p>\n Swinney confirmed that he had \u201ccourteous\u201d talks with Mr Trump<\/a> this morning, Tuesday, July 29, ahead of the official opening of a second course in Aberdeenshire. Gifts were also exchanged ahead of the meeting, with Mr Swinney giving the US president framed historic documents showing his family connections to Scotland, and a map of the Isle of Lewis. In return Mr Trump gave the First Minister an American bald eagle figurine.<\/p>\n The leaders discussed the situation in Gaza and tariffs on Scotch whisky, which Mr Swinney said Trump<\/a> appeared to be willing to move on. Speaking to the PA news agency, the First Minister said the tournament funding was not to curry favour with the president.<\/p>\n Asked if it was an effort to \u201cbutter up\u201d Mr Trump, he said: \u201cNo, I think what I was trying to do is to make sure that a tournament <\/a>that was coming to Scotland could be properly promoted. \u201cIt\u2019s coming here, we\u2019ve essentially intervened to secure a tournament quite late in the day.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Swinney <\/a>added that the Government provides cash to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) in St Andrews. \u201cIf the principle is good enough for the R&A, it\u2019s good enough for Trump International,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Asked about his relationship with Trump<\/a> following his first face-to-face meetings with the leader, Mr Swinney said there had been \u201cvery good and courteous\u201d conversations between the two. \u201cI think we talked well about the issues that matter to the people of Scotland,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has a deep affinity with Scotland<\/a>, so he\u2019s got a warmth and an empathy towards Scotland and he was interested in all the issues that I was raising about Scotland. \u201cSo I think we had a very welcome opportunity to engage in dialogue and to build a relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if he believes that positive relationship will continue into the future, the First Minister said he does, adding the president ended the meeting by urging him to contact the US administration<\/a> should he wish to raise any issues.<\/p>\n \u201cI intend to take him up on that issue, because my job as First Minister of Scotland is to promote and protect the interests of the country and I can engage constructively with the president of the United States<\/a> to do that,\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Swinney added. As well as a meeting early on Tuesday, the First Minister was also invited to a dinner on Monday evening at the Aberdeenshire club<\/a> alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1_JS376514120.jpg\")
John Swinney arrives at new course at Trump International Golf Links in Balmedie.<\/p>\n![\"First](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_JS376522396.jpg\")
First Minister John Swinney at the first tee.<\/p>\n