John Swinney has endorsed Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.
Scotland’s first minister joked that his endorsement is not just because Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, is opposed to Scottish independence.
Speaking to reporters in the Scottish parliament on Thursday, Swinney was asked who he was backing to replace Joe Biden in the White House as the US election nears.
The SNP leader said: “People in the United States of America should vote for Kamala Harris and I have not come to that conclusion only because Donald Trump is opposed to Scottish independence.”
The comment referenced a recent clip of Trump, in which he discussed his heritage in Scotland and stated his opposition to the dissolution of the Anglo-Scottish Union.
During the appearance with comedian Andrew Schulz, Trump said: “You know, they tried to break up Scotland from the rest of the empire, so to speak.
“It made it by about like a half a point. They kept it together. So I hope it stays together. I hope it always stays together.”
In a 2014 referendum, Scotland voted 55 per cent to 45 per cent to remain in the United Kingdom.
Americans will vote on 5 November to elect the country’s 47th president.
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