Donald Trump is not welcome in democratic Scotland - Lorna Slater
There are a lot of words that come to mind when I think about Donald Trump, but this week the standout one is ‘Disrespect.’
Last Friday, the world watched his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in astonishment. The conversation or lack thereof, was a demonstration that Trump does not care about Ukraine.
For Trump to deny that Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine, to accuse the leader of a democratic nation, who has been invaded by Russia, of being a dictator is to hand a propaganda victory to Vladimir Putin.
It is far from the only instance of Trump completely disrespecting and undermining another nation or a group of people. His whole political career has been based on it.
At almost every opportunity he has chosen to incite hatred and fear while peddling disinformation and division. It was how he got elected in the first place and is key to how he governs.
Since he re-entered the White House, Trump has unleashed some of the most destructive policies of any US President in living memory.
He is a bully. We have seen that in the way he has treated Ukraine, but also in the way that he has slashed international aid and used the threat of tariffs as an economic weapon to get his way, as he did to Canada and others.
The US that he is building is one where billionaires and polluters benefit from the removal of longstanding regulations while refugees are detained or deported and millions of women have their right to reproductive care taken away,
The planned state visit for Trump would send completely the wrong message.
If it goes ahead, it would be a slap in the face to our allies, but also to the millions of people across the US and beyond who are frightened and who are watching as their friends and family have their rights eroded.
Scotland has a history of proudly welcoming refugees and people seeking asylum. We value democracy and the rule of law.
We should not cozy-up to those who stand against those values, and should not be silent or complacent while the rights of refugees and LGBTQ+ folks are under attack at home and abroad.
All democratic leaders need to stand up to Trump and the toxic, hateful and authoritarian politics that he represents.
Donald Trump is not our friend, and he never will be. The invitation for a state visit should never have been made in the first place and if our obligations to Ukraine and to human rights around the world are to mean anything, it is time for it to be withdrawn.