Donald Trump says Nicola Sturgeon ‘didn’t love Scotland’

Speaking to Nigel Farage during his visit to Scotland, the former US president added that he’s sure First Minister Humza Yousaf is “going to be a lot better” than his predecessor.

Trump also appeared to play down the idea of Scottish independence, saying: "I think they should stay together". 

The 76-year-old was visiting his Turnberry golf resort during a whistle-stop tour of Scotland having arrived in South Ayrshire on Tuesday.

Asked by Farage about Sturgeon’s handling of the Isla Bryson case, the transgender woman who was convicted of raping two women before her transition from a man, Trump said: “I think a lot of countries have had enough of it, what’s going on.

“I know that case, and I thought it was terrible, and I guess it helped ruin her career.

“I think she had other reasons also, but I just felt she didn’t love Scotland.”

The former White House incumbent also denied he was “anti-Muslim” following comments he had previously made about London mayor Sadiq Khan, saying he has “many Muslim friends”.

On Sturgeon’s successor Humza Yousaf, Trump said: “I don’t know him. I hope he’s going to do a great job and I’m sure he’s going to be a lot better than Sturgeon.”

During the interview, he also said that Biden is not physically up to the job, and accused the US President of being “disrespectful” for not attending the King’s coronation.

Trump, who was defeated by Biden in the US presidential election in 2020, told GB News: “I don’t think he can do it physically, actually.

“I think that it’s hard for him to do it physically, … getting over here for him.

“He’s got a lot of things going and a lot of strange things happen. But certainly he should be here as a representative of our country.

“I was surprised when I heard that he wasn’t coming.” He added: “I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be (at the coronation).”

Donald Trump also said Boris Johnson “changed a lot in office”, suggesting policies under the former prime minister’s Conservative administration were “far-left”.

He said the Tories “really weren’t staying Conservative.”

“They were going – I mean they were literally going far-left,” he continued.

“It never made sense. I’m saying this as an insider looking in, they were going far-left. What were they doing?

“And now maybe Labour’s in the lead, maybe they’re not. I don’t know who’s in the lead.

“But I can tell you they were not Conservative policies in the end.”

Trump has now left Scotland, landing at Shannon Airport on Wednesday evening in the west of Ireland.