KEIR Starmer was forced to intervene after Donald Trump appeared to suggest “all" the benefits of a UK-US trade deal should go to Scotland.
Speaking at a press conference after a meeting between the two leaders at the US president’s golf course in Ayrshire, Trump was asked about the UK-US trade deal and the potential [[benefits]] for Scotland.
A journalist asked: “Because of your love of Scotland, is there a better trade deal to be done for Scottish businesses like whisky?”
He then said: “Well, I assume when we do our trade deal overall, a lot of it comes to Scotland.
“I hope maybe all of it should go to Scotland.”
The Prime Minister then interrupted, saying: “It's a very good deal for the whole United Kingdom and we have already achieved great things on the deal and we'll achieve even more as we work together.”
Trump was also asked about the trade deal and its impact on Scotland ahead of the meeting, which led him to claim he has a “great love” for the country and that he wants Scotland to "thrive".
Pointing to the fact that his mother, Mary Anne, was born there, he said she would return to her homeland “once a year” for a visit.
He later added: “So yeah, it gives me a feeling, you know it’s different, you go to another country, you have no relationship to it … but it’s different when your mother was born here.”
Pushed again on whether that could mean a different deal for products such as whisky, Trump added: “I was very particular, this is a part of the world I want to see thrive. It’s going to thrive.”
The meeting between the leaders comes as part of Trump’s five-day-long private trip to Scotland.
Afterwards, they will travel on together for a further private engagement in Aberdeen.
