FOI/202600515992 · FOI · partially withheld
Message from US President to First Minister regarding whisky tariffs removal: FOI release
Information requested
On 1st May 2026, John Swinney told the media that Donald Trump had sent a private message to thank him for “proposing the route” which led to the removal of tariffs on whisky.
Please provide a copy of this message.
Response
Some of the information you have requested has been included in the attached annex. This includes a copy of an email from the First Minister’s Principal Private Secretary (PPS) which details the message sent by the President’s assistant, on his behalf, for the First Minister.
The following exemption has been applied to information in the annex, s.38 (1)(b) – personal information.
The reasons why exemptions have been applied is explained below.
FOISA Exemptions
An exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This is because some of the information you have requested is the personal data of third parties. 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
The following exemption has been applied to information in the annex, s.38 (1)(b) – personal information. The reasons why exemptions have been applied is explained below. FOISA Exemptions An exemption under section 38(1)(b) (personal information) 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.