US presidency will be vital to UK long after Trump is gone

NOTHING causes a sharper intake of breath in Scottish politics than the phrase, “Donald Trump to visit Scotland.” Well, maybe, “how much did you say your campervan was?”

- Alan Grant

The prospect of President Trump coming to Scotland, where his mother was from and where he owns two golf courses, reliably causes a stir among the Scottish political class.

At time of writing, President Trump, who has always held Scotland and Great Britain in high regard, will meet both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister John Swinney, although it’s unlikely that either Sir Keir or Mr Swinney will pick up a club and join the President for 18 holes — more entertainment than we deserve.

Others have not recognised the opportunity of the visit.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has said he will be “washing his hair” (admittedly, that’s quite funny) and Green MSP and former minister for plastic bottles Lorna Slater has called for protests.

THE mistake here is to tie the office with the current, transient holder of it. Mr Trump, in a few years’ time, will never be able to be the President of the United States ever again, such is the genius of the United States Constitution.

Someone else, a Democrat or another Republican, will be in the job of leading the free world but the crucial point is that the office itself continues.