Donald Trump has branded Nicola Sturgeon a ‘terrible first minister’ as he reignited his bitter feud with the ex-SNP leader.
The US President made the comments on Air Force One as he travelled back to Washington DC following his five-day visit to Scotland.
During his stay, he had a two-hour dinner on Monday with current First Minister John Swinney, alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Swinney, who also met Mr Trump on Tuesday morning, said he had used the talks to push the US President to exempt Scotch from US tariffs.
Speaking to reporters on his flight home, Mr Trump was asked if he offered to drop the levy on the drink.
He replied: ‘No. We really didn’t discuss it much. But I have a lot of respect for him [Mr Swinney].’
Journalists began asking questions again, before Mr Trump interjected: ‘I didn’t have a lot of respect for the woman that preceded him.
‘I thought she was terrible as a first minister of Scotland. But I think John is doing a very good job of First Minister.’
Donald Trump has branded Nicola Sturgeon a ‘terrible first minister’ as he reignited his bitter feud with the ex-SNP leader.
The US President made the comments about Ms Sturgeon on Air Force One as he travelled back to Washington DC following his five-day visit to Scotland
A source close to Ms Sturgeon responded: ‘Trump’s lack of respect for women is hardly news. That said, the feeling was entirely mutual.’
Ms Sturgeon added on her Instagram account: ‘Feeling was mutual, Donnie. Forever proud to represent all the things that offend your view of the world.’
In a follow-up post, Ms Sturgeon said she was ‘raging’ that she had been unable to put Mr Trump’s ‘endorsement’ on the front cover of her new book.
The politician’s memoir, Frankly, is being published next month.
Mr Trump criticised Ms Sturgeon, who became first minister in 2014, during her resignation in 2023.
He described her as a ‘failed woke extremist’ and a ‘crazed leftist’ who ‘symbolises everything wrong with identity politics’.
When he was first elected as US President in 2016, Ms Sturgeon described Mr Trump’s behaviour and rhetoric as ‘abhorrent’.
During his recent five-day visit to Scotland, Mr Trump also ranted about London mayor Sadiq Khan – another British politician he has frequently clashed with.
As he sat next to Sir Keir, the US President branded Sir Sadiq a ‘nasty person’ who has done ‘a terrible job’ as the capital’s mayor.
At this point, the PM stuck out a hand and interjected to say: ‘He’s a friend of mine, actually.’
