BORIS Johnson has been urged to tell Donald Trump to be a “little more responsible” when the two men next meet.
And that encounter could come as soon as next month, as despite strict travel rules, the president is keen to host a G7 summit in Washington.
The meeting was cancelled months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic, but in a tweet earlier this week Trump said he was keen to reschedule.
“It would be a great sign to all – normalisation,” he said.
Downing Street said it was in close contact with the White House and would look at the details when they come out.
Asked what advice she would offer Johnson ahead of the possible meeting, Nicola Sturgeon said: “I think all of us, and I say this, not just as as a leader of a government, I say this as a citizen, I would like to see the president of the United States in his demeanour and public utterances around dealing with this virus be just a little bit more responsible in the messages he's giving.”
The First Minister added: “We laugh sometimes about previous comments about disinfectant and, you know, some of the comments he's made recently about testing, but it is so important that [when leaders] give clear advice and messages to people, that we try to base on the best knowledge, science, and information, that we've got.
“I think that's a responsibility for leaders at the best of times, but it's such an important responsibility at times like this.
“So maybe a bit of encouragement to think about the importance of that would go amiss.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said yesterday: “We are in close contact with the US in the run-up to the summit.
“We will need to look at the details of what the US are proposing.
“Hosting arrangements for the G7 are a matter for the country that holds the current G7 presidency, in this case the US.
“The PM continues to work with the G7 to ensure a co-ordinated international response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
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