Jeane Freeman, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, believes her constituents ‘would not be particularly happy’ to see Donald Trump in Ayrshire following his rumoured visit this month.
Ms Freeman has reacted to the “shocking” events which took place in the US this week after Trump supporters staged an insurrection in the United States Congress, storming Capitol Hill and engaging in violence.
Reports have been circulating that Trump is planning on travelling to Scotland to visit his Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire around the date of US president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
READ MORE: Donald Trump 'could ditch inauguration' with Turnberry trip'
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously warned that the outgoing president is no exemption to the rule of non-essential travel into and out of Scotland following the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, warning that "coming to play golf is not what I would consider to be an essential purpose."
With her views on the matter, Ms Freeman said: “I believe my constituents and the vast majority of our fellow Scots would not be particularly happy to see Donald Trump in Scotland at the best of times and his appalling actions and the shocking events of the past few days serves only to reinforce that sentiment.
The scenes from the Capitol are utterly horrifying. Solidarity with those in 🇺🇸 on the side of democracy and the peaceful and constitutional transfer of power. Shame on those who have incited this attack on democracy.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) January 6, 2021
“First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been very clear on this issue. We are in a pandemic at the moment and we are saying to everyone – and this is underpinned in law right now in Scotland – that you should not be travelling out of the country or into the country unless you have a really essential purpose.
“Donald Trump coming to Scotland to play golf is not, by any stretch of the imagination, an essential purpose so he would be asked to abide by the restrictions and stay away."
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Almost 10,000 Ayrshire residents receive first dose of vaccine
The Cumnock MSP acknowledged the privileges held by former US presidents regarding international travel, but emphasised the Scottish Government’s stance on the issue.
She continued: “However, as I understand it, former presidents of the United States have a degree of privilege when it comes to international travel and international borders are a matter reserved to Westminster.
“If Trump ignored warnings to stay away, the Scottish Government would use every power available to it to protect the health of its citizens.”
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