Donald Trump has become the President of the United States for the second time at his inauguration in Washington DC.
The controversial businessman has returned to the White House four years after being voted out of office. Vice President JD Vance has also taken up his role.
Trump becomes the 47th US President after beating Kamala Harris in November’s election. The 78-year-old had served as President between 2016 and 2020, before losing to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Biden had been due to run against Trump last year, but eventually pulled out due to concerns over his health. Then Deputy Vice President Harris took over the democratic candidacy.
Trump has strong connections to Scotland. He owns Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire and Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire. His mother, Marry Anne MacLeod, was born and raised on the Isle of Lewis.
His return to power has led to fevered speculation his new administration will soon impose a 20 per cent tariff on foreign goods imported to the US.
During his first stint in charge, the New Yorker imposed retaliatory tariffs on imports of Scotch whisky between October 2019 and March 2021 – costing £600 million in exports, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).
The tariffs were suspended for five years but are due to resume in 2026 – unless Trump intervenes.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week warned US economic policies under Trump could hit the rest of the world and ultimately backfire on the US.
The UN agency said a threatened wave of tariffs could make trade tensions worse, lower investment, hit market pricing, distort trade flows and disrupt supply chains.
After backing Harris in the election, SNP First Minister John Swinney said he would meet Trump if he comes to Scotland. He has promised to speak to the US President in a bid to avoid trade tariffs.
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