Anas Sarwar’s U.S. Trip ‘Not Surprising’, According to Expert
Anas Sarwar’s visit to the United States this week has sparked criticism from political opponents and experts after the Scottish Labour leader appeared to court business interests linked to Donald Trump.
Dr Fabian Hilfrich, a senior lecturer in American history and expert in U.S. foreign policy at the University of Edinburgh, told The Glasgow Standard that Sarwar’s approach was “not necessarily surprising” but unlikely to bear fruit.
The visit comes on the back of new tariffs introduced by President Trump over the weekend, prompting speculation over how Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and by extension Scottish Labour, will navigate the increasingly uncertain trade landscape.
Sarwar has chosen to double down on engagement. Writing in The Times, he said, “If we want Scotland to prosper, we must make it a place where businesses feel wanted and welcomed… including, yes, businesses linked to President Trump.”
But Dr Hilfrich questioned both the tactics and its substance.
“I personally don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “And I think, you know, probably, in my view, it probably has more to do with Scottish politics than with anything else.
“Scotland’s not going to make an independent trade policy with the United States. I don’t know whether he’s looking for an out for the Scottish whisky industry. Not very likely, since in the last Trump administration, Scottish whisky had also been slapped with tariffs.
“So it’s hard to see what concretely can be gained by that.”
Hilfrich also raised doubts about whether Sarwar’s stance would have any meaningful influence on UK-wide trade talks.
“He is using rhetoric that Starmer would not necessarily use,” he said. “But broadly speaking, if he is trying to negotiate better conditions for Scottish trade, again, I think that’s very doubtful.”
While trips during Tartan Week have become a regular feature for Scottish political leaders, the tone and timing of Sarwar’s messaging, particularly his apparent openness to a deal with Trump, have raised eyebrows.
“I don’t think he’s necessarily undermining Starmer,” Hilfrich added. “But he’s going against his political opponent in John Swinney – that’s not necessarily surprising. We’ll have to see what comes of that.”
Some in Scotland’s political sphere have reacted with disbelief. The Scottish Greens condemned Sarwar’s stance, saying, “Is this a joke? In the last three months Donald Trump has threatened to invade Greenland, Canada, Panama and Mexico. He’s threatened to ethnically cleanse Gaza. He’s lied about Scotland to undermine our healthcare. And he’s now unilaterally plunged his own economy into turmoil.”
In a LinkedIn post ahead of the trip, Sarwar presented a vision of a Scotland open for investment, highlighting sectors from renewables to creative industries and calling for more direct flights to attract tourists. But his message shifted sharply during the week, accusing the SNP-led government of being “closed for business” and urging First Minister John Swinney to strike a deal with Trump.
However, with the SNP still projected to remain the largest party at Holyrood in the 2026 election, forecasted to win 55 seats, Scottish Labour faces a daunting path to power. According to polling from the Diffley Partnership, Labour is set to secure just 19 seats, down from 22, despite hopes of a bounce from Starmer’s general election victory.
