FOI/202600516002 · FOI · not held
Specific communication records around US President's decision on whisky tariffs: FOI release
Information requested
I am not seeking any policy advice, briefing material, or details of what was discussed. This request relates to the Scottish Government’s public statements that the First Minister received a “note” from, and later held a telephone call with, the President of the United States in connection with the decision on US whisky tariffs between April 30 and May 1, 2026.
Please provide:
1. For the telephone call: a. Any information held which records the identity, job title and employing organisation of each United States participant in the call which the Scottish Government has publicly described as a call with the President of the United States. b. Any information held which records whether the President of the United States personally participated in that call (for example, internal notes, emails, or call records indicating whether the President was on the line).
I am not requesting the content of the call, briefing notes or advice, only information that identifies the title of who took part and in what capacity.
2. For the “note” or “text” reportedly sent in advance of the call: a. Any information held which records the originator’s name, job title and employing organisation of the message that has been described publicly as a “note” or “text” from the President of the United States.
If the Scottish Government does not hold the original message, please confirm this explicitly.
3. Any internal communication (such as emails or messages) which clarifies or corrects how the Scottish Government should describe, in public communications, the “note” and the call (for example, whether they should be described as being from or with the President personally, or with another US official).
For clarity, I am not requesting:
briefing packs, submissions, or lines to take; any record of the substance of the discussion; any advice on tariffs or policy; any documents originating from the United States Government other than the specific “note” or message described above.
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 second document in the annex is the note from the First Minister of his call with President Trump. 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.