Trump-Farage interview – latest: Ex-president hits out at ‘disrespectful’ Meghan and Harry

Donald Trump hit out at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for being “disrespectful” to the late Queen Elizabeth.

Speaking Nigel Farage on GB News, the former president said he was “surprised” Harry was invited to King Charles’s coronation after writing Spare, which Mr Trump called a “just horrible” book.

The wide-ranging interview with Mr Farage, an ideological ally, was the only one Mr Trump gave on a two-day trip to Scotland to open a golf course in Ayrshire bearing his name.

Elsewhere in a 30 minute chat, Mr Trump struck an uncharacteristically modest note when discussing his prospects of winning back the presidency in 2024.

Asked how he expects a race against incumbent Joe Biden to play out, the former president said “I think we have a very good chance,” toning down the boastful style that marked his first bid for the job.

He also said he would end the Ukraine war in “one day” if he were president, and accused Boris Johnson of turning “far-left” while in office.

Key Points

• Ex-president ‘surprised’ Harry invited to coronation

• Trump won’t say for certain he’ll win in 2024

• ‘China invented Covid-19’: Trump repeats claim yet again

• Boris Johnson went ‘far-left’ in office, says Trump

• Trump says Nicola Sturgeon is a ‘negative force’ who ‘hurt Scotland'

Donald Trump ‘surprised’ Prince Harry invited to coronation

20:04 , Liam James

Donald Trump gave his opinion on Prince Harry’s relationship with the other royals.

Speaking to Nigel Farage about the coming coronation of King Charles, Mr Trump said: “I was actually surprised that Harry was invited.”

He went on: “He said some terrible things ... and the book [‘Spare’] was just horrible.”

Scotland trip is first since Trump left office

21:45 , Natalie Crockett

Donald Trump has been in Scotland since Monday as part of a visit to celebrate the breaking of ground for a second course at his Menie Estate golf resort near Aberdeen.

The course will be named the MacLeod course in memory of his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born on Lewis in the Western Isles before emigrating to the US.

The former president then flew to Prestwick Airport and travelled to Turnberry on Tuesday, where staff lined the steps and waved hats which said “we make Turnberry great again” to greet him.

Wearing a red baseball cap with the words “Make America Great Again” on it, Mr Trump shook hands and chatted to some of those waiting to welcome him.

This was Mr Trump’s first trip to Scotland since leaving office.

Trump ‘should look in the mirror’ to see politician with negative impact

21:15 , Natalie Crockett

Reacting to Mr Trump’s earlier claims that Nicola Sturgeon has “hurt Scotland”, a source close to the former first minister said: “If Donald Trump wants to see a politician who has had a negative impact on a country then he should maybe reach for a mirror.

“Whilst Nicola is flattered that the former President remains upset that she did not fall for his charms, she has moved on.”

Trump says Nicola Sturgeon is a ‘negative force’ who ‘hurt Scotland'

20:45 , Natalie Crockett

Donald Trump has said Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is a “negative force” who “hurt Scotland”.

The former US president made the claims as he visited his golf resort Trump Turnberry in South Ayrshire on the third day of his visit to Scotland.

He told the Scottish Sun earlier on Wednesday: “Nicola Sturgeon has not been very nice to me.

“I think she (Sturgeon) was anti-business. She is a negative force.”

Mr Trump said Ms Sturgeon “has been a very successful politician” but her resignation as first minister was a “good change for Scotland”.

He added: “She has hurt Scotland. She has hurt education and tourism. She should have embraced us.”

Trump shies away from saying he’d win in 2024

19:46 , Liam James

The ordinarily boastful Donald Trump said he has only “a very good chance” of winning in 2024.

He was asked about his prospects in the next US presidential election in an interview with Nigel Farage for GB News.

The former president, who plans to run against Joe Biden once more, said: “I think we have a very good chance.”

He went on: “The economy’s not good, I’ll make it good. Everyone knows that.”

Trump repeats claim China invented Covid-19

19:45 , Liam James

Former US president and businessman Donald Trump repeated his claim that China was behind the emergence of coronavirus, calling it a “gift” from Beijing.

During an interview with GB News, he said: “It came out of Wuhan, I said that right from the beginning, from day one I said that.

“And I had reasons to say it, but it came out of Wuhan. But the question is, did they do it on purpose or not?

“I think it was incompetence. They blew it and they’re suffering. Then they had it. They did hide it. Yeah, they tried to hide it.”

Mr Trump said the Chinese government should pay reparations for the alleged so-called virus leak, but added that they can “never pay” the full damage international economies and populations had suffered.

Trump claims he could ‘end the Ukraine war in one day'

19:40 , Liam James

Donald Trump said he would be able to put a stop to the war in Ukraine in a single day if he were re-elected to the White House.

Speaking to Nigel Farage on GB News in an interview recorded during his visit to Scotland, Mr Trump said: “If I were president, I will end that war in one day. It’ll take 24 hours. I will get that ended. It would be easy.

“That deal would be easy. A lot of it has to do with the money. That war has to be stopped. It is a disaster.”

Mr Trump said he “got along great” with Russian president Vladimir Putin, adding: “Putin never would have gotten into Ukraine if it weren’t for the incompetence of this administration, this current administration.

“Putin was not going in, it was never mentioned and I knew him very well.”

Boris Johnson went ‘far-left’ in office, says Trump

19:35 , Liam James

Donald Trump said Boris Johnson “changed a lot in office”, suggesting policies under the former prime minister’s Conservative administration were “far-left”.

The former US president told GB News the Tories “really weren’t staying Conservative.”

“They were going - I mean they were literally going far-left,” he continued.

“It never made sense. I’m saying this as an insider looking in, they were going far-left. What were they doing?

“And now maybe Labour’s in the lead, maybe they’re not. I don’t know who’s in the lead.

“But I can tell you they were not Conservative policies in the end.”

Biden physically incapable of attending coronation, Trump suggests

19:30 , Liam James

Joe Biden is not physically up to the job, according to his predecessor Donald Trump, as he accused the US president of being “disrespectful” for not attending the King’s coronation.

Mr Trump, who was defeated by Mr Biden in the US presidential election in 2020, told GB News: “I don’t think he can do it physically, actually.

“I think that it’s hard for him to do it physically ... getting over here for him.

“He’s got a lot of things going and a lot of strange things happen. But certainly he should be here as a representative of our country.

“I was surprised when I heard that he wasn’t coming.” He added: “I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be (at the coronation).”

In a clip aired before the interview, he suggested Mr Biden, whose wife is attending on his behalf, would be “sleeping” through Saturday’s coronation ceremony.

Transgender athletes ‘very unfair’, says Trump

19:26 , Liam James

Nigel Farage asked what Donald Trump considered a woman and whether transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in competitive sport.

Mr Trump replied: “When I see men participating in women’s sports and records being broken... I think it’s very unfair. I think it’s very disrespectful to women.

“We will not allow men to compete in women’s sports. It’s so unfair. It’s totally disrespectful... I think it’s a very bad thing.”

Trump ‘surprised’ Harry invited to coronation

19:19 , Natalie Crockett

On Prince Harry’s invitation to the coronation, Donald Trump said: “I was surprised Harry was invited to be honest … he said some terrible things ... the book [Spare] was just horrible.”

Nigel Farage went on to ask about Meghan Markle. “I think that she has been very disrespectful to the Queen [Elizabeth],” Mr Trump said.

Sturgeon doesn’t love Scotland, says Trump

19:16 , Liam James

Donald Trump said he did not think that former Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon loved her country.

Asked by Nigel Farage on GB News about Ms Sturgeon’s handling of the Isla Bryson case, the transgender woman who was convicted of raping two women before her transition from a man, the former US president said: “I think a lot of countries have had enough of it, what’s going on.

“I know that case, and I thought it was terrible, and I guess it helped ruin her career.

“I think she had other reasons also, but I just felt she didn’t love Scotland.”

The former White House incumbent denied he was “anti-Muslim” following comments he had previously made about London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Biden ‘disrespectful’ for skipping coronation, says Trump

19:15 , Liam James

Donald Trump hit out as his successor Joe Biden for skipping the coronation of King Charles.

Asked by Nigel Farage about Mr Biden’s non-attendance, Mr Trump said: “I don’t think it’s hard for him to do it physically. I think getting over here for him.

“He’s got a lot of things going on but certainly he should be here as a representative of our country.”

“I was surprised when I heard that he wasn’t coming. I would think he would be here.

“I was very surprised to see I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be here.”

Trump says new Scottish leader will ‘be a lot better than Sturgeon'

19:10 , Liam James

Asked about new Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, Donald Trump said: “ I hope he’s going to do a great job and I’m sure he’s gonna be a lot better than Nicola Sturgeon.”

He said Ms Sturgeon was “anti-business”.

Mr Trump said Mr Yousaf was “going to do a much better job than she did.

“She was very very anti-jobs ... if you look at it as somebody that invests a lot of money in Scotland, you should cherish those people because that created tremendous success now.”

Trump promotes golf course in Farage interview

19:06 , Liam James

Nigel Farage’s interview with Donald Trump started with a plug for the former president’s golf course.

We will spare you the details.

Trump says Charles will ‘do a great job'

19:04 , Liam James

Donald Trump said he was looking forward to the coronation of King Charles.

“I think it’s gonna be a great day and I think that they will do a great job,” he told Nigel Farage.

“He loves the country. He really loves the country.”

How to watch Donald Trump’s interview with Nigel Farage

18:55 , Liam James

Donald Trump is currently visiting Scotland and has granted the only interview of his trip to former Ukip and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

The one-on-one exchange will air live on GB News at 7pm on Wednesday evening as part of Mr Farage’s regular programme and will be viewable on the channel, its website and via the broadcaster’s YouTube channel.

More details on what to expect, from Joe Sommerlad, here:

How to watch Donald Trump’s interview with Nigel Farage

Trump heading to Ireland for more golf

18:40 , Liam James

Former US president Donald Trump is expected to follow President Joe Biden, his successor at the White House, by visiting Ireland.

Preparations were under way with heightened security at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel just outside the town of Doonbeg in County Clare.

An increased garda presence was visible on the beaches and roads around the golf course on the west coast of Ireland ahead of the former president’s arrival.

Armed units on quad bikes patrolled the nearby Doughmore Beach on the Atlantic coast as road policing units were seen driving on routes to and from nearby towns.

Gardai on motorbikes and a dog unit were also seen waiting at Mr Trump‘s resort.

Audio captures Trump demanding NBC reporter be kicked off plane for asking about hush money probe

18:32 , Liam James

Former President Donald Trump grew angry with a correspondent for NBC News this spring and ordered that they be kicked off his plane for asking about his ongoing hush money probe (John Bowden writes).

The incident reportedly occurred on 25 March, according to Vanity Fair, and resulted from repeated questions from NBC’s Vaughn Hillyard about the case that was at that time nearing an official indictment. The ex-president would go on to be charged with 32 criminal counts of falsifying business records to hide a hush money scheme.

According to audio obtained by Vanity Fair, Hillyard questioned Mr Trump during a gaggle aboard “Trump Force One” as it sat on the ground in Waco, Texas, following the president’s rally there on 25 March. After suggestions that he was growing frustrated or anxious about the probe, Mr Trump grew visibly incensed and ordered Hillyard to stop asking questions.

Click here for the full story:

Audio captures Trump demanding NBC reporter be kicked off plane

Trump attacks Nicola Sturgeon for ‘hurting Scotland'

18:15 , Liam James

Donald Trump has said Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is a “negative force” who “hurt Scotland”.

He told the Scottish Sun: “Nicola Sturgeon has not been very nice to me.

“She never liked what we did for Scotland. My mother was Scottish. The people of Scotland are very proud of what I did for Scotland. I think she [Ms Sturgeon] was anti-business. She is a negative force.”

Mr Trump said Ms Sturgeon “has been a very successful politician” but her resignation as first minister was a “good change for Scotland”.

He added: “She has hurt Scotland. She has hurt education and tourism. She should have embraced us.”

He said he believes “you should embrace people like my friend Sean Connery”, and claimed the late James Bond star was “very proud of me and what I did for Scotland”.

Click here for the full story:

Trump: Sturgeon is a ‘negative force’ who ‘hurt Scotland’

Trump tees off in Scotland ahead of Farage interview

18:00 , Liam James

Former US president Donald Trump has headed on to the golf course on the third day of his visit to Scotland, playing a round at his Trump Turnberry resort in South Ayrshire.

His son Eric accompanied him as he took the wheel of a golf buggy.

Mr Trump arrived in Scotland on his private jet on Monday to cut a ribbon at a ceremony to break ground for a second course at his Menie Estate golf resort near Aberdeen. It will be named the MacLeod course – dedicated to his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.

She was born on Lewis in the Western Isles before emigrating to the US.

Donald Trump says ‘it’s great to be home’ as he arrives in Scotland amid slew of lawsuits

17:45 , Liam James

Donald Trump declared “it’s great to be home” as he landed in Scotland on Monday to visit his golf resorts ahead of a trip to Ireland (Tara Cobham writes).

The former president, who is running again for the White House in 2024, was in Aberdeen to cut a ribbon to mark breaking ground on a new, second course at his Menie Estate.

He arrived with son Eric and was greeted at Aberdeen Airport by pipers, a red carpet and 10-vehicle motorcade.

Get the full story on the president’s trip here:

Trump says ‘it’s great to be home’ as he arrives in Scotland amid slew of lawsuits

Trump and Farage pictured ahead of interview

17:30 , Liam James

Donald Trump and Nigel Farage have been pictured together hours before the latter interviews the former on GB News.

The pair were seen at Trump Turnberry course in South Ayrshire.

Mr Trump is visiting Scotland for the opening of golf courses bearing his name.

‘Everyone know Nigel?’: GB News teases Trump interview

17:20 , Liam James

A brief trailer for the Donald Trump and Nigel Farage interview was posted to social media by GB News.

In the clip, the former US president tells his entourage: “Everyone know Nigel? We’re doing a little minor interview tomorrow.”

Donald Trump to be interviewed by Nigel Farage

17:05 , Liam James

Donald Trump will be interviewed by Nigel Farage on GB News this evening, as the former US president tours Scotland to open golf courses in his name.

Mr Trump will speak to the host, an ideological ally, about his views on British politics, his bid for the presidency in 2024 and his ongoing legal trouble, among other things.

The interview will air at 7pm on the GB News channel, the broadcaster’s website and its YouTube channel.