How much more straightforward it would be if Donald Trump had settled for a garden dedicated to his mother’s memory in the place she came from, rather than on the other side of the country.
Instead of carting Lewis stone to the Menie Estate, homage could have been paid where both the stone and the young Mary Ann Macleod originated. Scotland’s over-stretched police force could go about its normal business, pursuing criminals. Multiple millions could be devoted to more useful purposes.
The Minch would have provided the best possible security moat and if ferries were diverted for a couple of days to deter the presence of hostile forces, who would notice the difference?
Mr President could have had a perfectly adequate round of golf in Stornoway then nip down the road for nine holes at Scarista though he would have had to be advised in advance that the Harris machair, which puts Florida in the shade, is not for sale. Then home, by the shortest air crossing, to New York. Job done.
Read More:
- So you want progressive taxes, SNP? Fine: start with a land tax
- I was a Labour minister: Sir Keir you must U-turn on benefits cuts
- These 'new' SNP plans for Scotland are uninspired and visionless
Alas, the truth is that Mr Trump has never shown the slightest interest in his mother’s actual homeland, except as the briefest possible stopping off point on his way to planning consent in Aberdeenshire. Rather pathetically, the truth behind his Scottish connection – the classic tale of an economic migrant who found the American Dream - has never been allowed its place in the Trump narrative.
In his book “The Trumps and How We Got This Way”, Fred Trump – Donald’s nephew – wrote: “For years, people on my grandfather’s side of the family would bury the true story of my grandmother’s arrival in America ...
“The way they chose to tell it, Scottish lass Mary Ann was ‘on holiday’ from her happy life across the ocean when she met her Prince Charming, conveniently skipping the part where she fled grinding poverty and the five years she had worked as a maid in Queens and in Long Island in other people’s homes.”
By doing so, he wrote, the Trumps “wanted to skip the most inspiring parts” of the story. So it continues and, to be fair, Trump’s lack of interest in Lewis has been generously reciprocated.
There was one interesting exception which is a story I like. Before he became President, Trump visited Turnberry and was impressed with the seaweed-based products in the spa. The brand name was Ishga and it was only when he looked at the label that he learned they were from Lewis. “Hey”, he declared, “that’s where my mother came from”.
And so it was that my friend, Martin Macleod, who runs the seaweed company of which Ishga is a high quality spa spin-off, was summoned to Turnberry for an audience with the man himself – probably the only islander to have had that call though there have been many would-be supplicants. It was the product before the place which attracted Trump’s interest and there must be a marketing parable in there somewhere.
Idle speculation aside, Trump’s visit to Scotland really is a very strange affair and it is a measure of the capricious nature of his power that nobody really challenges its hybridity. It is unashamedly motivated by Trump’s private business interests and the conflation of these with the office he holds must be without parallel in American Presidential history.
If it was possible to read Trump’s mind, which it is not, the highest objective of the visit might well be unrelated even to the second golf course at Menie or the memorial garden. His big prize next week would be to get Turnberry back onto the list of Open Championship venues and don’t bet against it. That really would be the Art of the Deal.
From this side of the Atlantic, it seems a bit odd that an American President, with wars raging and the economy wobbling, can take five days out to promote the interests of his Scottish golf courses. In fact, it’s downright bizarre. You would think it would seem the same from an American perspective, but that is an equally difficult collective mind to read.
The visit offers an opportunity for Keir Starmer to further develop his relationship with Trump, as it is in the country’s overwhelming interest for him to do. This is true not only in terms of trade and tariffs though these are reasons enough on their own. In order to exert any influence on other matters, it is necessary to be inside the tent rather than frozen outside it.
Since everything in Scotland must be reduced to the parish pump, there has been much earnest debate about whether or not John Swinney should grace the President with a meeting. It’s a daft question. What else would he do when offered the chance? That’s his job, just as is it his duty not to make a mess of it. So spare us the angst.
Apparently there are three issues which Mr Swinney wishes to discuss – Gaza, Ukraine and trade. Obviously, the Scottish Government has no responsibility for the first two while it has shared responsibility for trade promotion but not trade policy, which includes tariffs.
Regardless of who was First Minister, or what their personal politics might be, it would probably be more useful to stick to devolved matters in talking to Trump. Essentially, that means trade and investment within the parameters of which there is plenty for Swinney to raise with some potential for usefulness. And remember, John - emphasising the quality of the products is more persuasive than what they’re wrapped in!
Sticking to devolved matters would also be less vulnerable to diplomatic mishap. While it might be tempting for Mr Swinney to hold forth on the great global issues of the day, or even reiterate his unflattering opinions of the President, it is doubtful if Trump would be either interested or influenced, though he might find it a little confusing and offensive. So steer clear. Jobs are stake.
In short, if Trump flies off with no damage done, it will be a diplomatic victory. Until the next time.
Brian Wilson is a former Labour Party politician. He was MP for Cunninghame North from 1987 until 2005 and served as a Minister of State from 1997 to 2003.
Share