Swinney turns down Trump invitation to White House banquet

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has turned down an invitation from Donald Trump to attend a state banquet at the White House next week.

The Scottish government said Swinney "politely declined" the offer to join the event on April 28, which is part of the King and Queen's state visit to the US.

A four-minute phonecall from the US president was held on Monday, with the invitation the focus of the conversation.

A spokesperson for the First Minister said he told Trump he was unable to attend due to campaigning for next month's Scottish Parliament election.

Swinney previously met the US president at the White House in September last year to discuss a potential deal to exempt Scotch whisky from US import tariffs.

A week later he attended a state banquet held in honour of President Trump at Windsor Castle.

Swinney recently called for "de-escalation" in Iran following the US strikes, while warning of the potential dangers of the military intervention.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: "President Trump called First Minister John Swinney to invite him to the State Banquet at the White House next week.

"Due to the election, the first minister politely declined the invitation."

The Holyrood election will take place on 7 May. SNP leader Swinney remains as Scotland's first minister throughout the election period.

The royal visit from 27-30 April will be King Charles' first state trip to the US since Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 2007.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will first travel to Washington DC where they will have a private meeting with Trump before the banquet.

They will also visit New York taking in an event at the 9/11 memorial.

From there the King and Queen will visit Virginia, before heading to the commonwealth country of Bermuda.