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FOI/202500498960 · FOI · partially withheld

Documentation regarding First Minister meeting with Donald Trump: FOI release

Published
2026-07-22
Received
2025-12-19
Responded
2026-01-22
Directorate
Culture and External Affairs Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector
Exemptions
38(1)

Information requested

Could you supply all documentation held by the government that relates to setting up John Swinney's visit to the White House and meeting with Donald Trump in September, i.e how did it get set up, who's idea was it, all requests for the meeting?

Response

I have interpreted your request as information about how the meeting with the First Minister and President Trump in Washington on 9 September was arranged.

I have attached a copy of emails that provide a record of communication between the First Minister’s Chief of Staff, Trump International and the White House about arranging a meeting between the First Minister and President Trump in Washington. These can be found at Annex A.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions of FOISA under sections s.38(1)(b) personal information, apply to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained below.

An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This applies to personal information of officials below the senior civil servant grades.

This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

Detected exemption language

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some the information you have requested because exemptions of FOISA under sections s.38(1)(b) personal information, apply to that information. The reasons why those exemptions apply are explained below. An exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

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