Edinburgh Greens bring vote on Council rejecting Trump
Edinburgh City Council has been urged to reject Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit, with a motion from the city’s Green councillors calling for members and officers to boycott any visit and ensure that no council budgets are used in hosting it.
The motion, which will be debated today, condemns the US President’s “emerging fascist state” and calls for the Council to ensure that none of its resources are used to support a Trump visit in any way.
Scottish Green councillor Alex Staniforth said:
“Edinburgh is a welcoming and diverse city that stands with the communities being attacked by Donald Trump and the far right government that he leads.
“Donald Trump has shown a total contempt for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Our Council does not have the power to stop him from visiting Edinburgh, but we can ensure that he is not given the warm welcome he craves.
“There are millions of people across the US and beyond who are frightened for their friends and family who are having their rights eroded or removed by this White House. Those are the people we are standing with.
“We hope that all parties will join us in condemning the planned state visit and rejecting Donald Trump and the politics he represents.”
Scottish Green Co-Leader Lorna Slater said:
“Donald Trump is no friend of Edinburgh. He is a racist, misogynist with a contempt for human rights and democracy.
“I hope that the Council will unite around this call by Edinburgh’s Green councillors and send a loud and clear message that Donald Trump is not welcome here.”
Motion By Councillor Alex Staniforth - Edinburgh Does Not Welcome Donald Trump
“Council:
- Notes that Donald Trump attempted to overturn the democratic result of the US election on 6th January 2021.
- Notes that since returning to the presidency Trump has used the power of the executive to prosecute crimes to influence Eric Adams, the mayor of New York; sacked federal workers simply for not being cis white men; pardoned those involved in the attempted Jan 6th coup; removed protections for trans people; cut USAID despite not having approval from Congress; held talks over Ukraine with Putin without inviting a representative from Ukraine; raised tariffs on Mexico and Canada and threatened the sovereignty of Canada and Greenland.
- Notes that there is every sign that Trump’s administration is an emerging fascist state with his special advisor Elon Musk performing Nazi salutes at his inauguration.
- Therefore resolves that Edinburgh Council – its officers and members – will not, in any official capacity, be involved in a Donald Trump or JD Vance visit to Edinburgh and will not use its resources to support such a visit in any way.”