Swinney is currently in Washington DC where he is aiming to convince the US President to roll back the 10% tariff on Scottish whisky.
The First Minister met with Trump at around 7pm GMT (2pm EDT) in the Oval Office after meeting with representatives of the whisky industry.
It is understood that the meeting with Trump lasted around 30 minutes.
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In a video posted on social media, Swinney, with the Washington Monument in the background, said: “I wanted to share an update on my visit to Washington, DC. I spent the morning with representatives of the whisky industry from Scotland and the United States, and we discussed the zero for zero approach on tariffs, which would help the industry to flourish on both sides of the pond.
“I’ve now taken those arguments to the Oval Office, to President Trump, and we’ve had a constructive discussion about the reasons why scotch whisky would benefit from no tariffs.
“And it’s all part of my job to make sure that Scotland’s interests are promoted at all times, and that’s what I’ll always do as First Minister.”
Whether Trump will remove the 10% tax on Scotch whisky imported to the US has not yet been established.
An update on my visit to Washington DC to promote jobs and investment in Scotch Whisky 👇 pic.twitter.com/LwWfZIJv8Y
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) September 9, 2025
Earlier on Tuesday, Swinney met representatives and member companies of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to make the case for lower whisky tariffs.
They met at Mount Vernon, the home of US founding father George Washington and the site of a whiskey distillery he opened in 1798, and which was operated by his Scottish farm hand James Anderson.
Ahead of the meeting with Trump, Swinney said: “When President Trump came to Scotland in July, we raised Scotch whisky with him and got it on the trade deal agenda.
“Now, with just over a week to go before the President makes a state visit to the UK, we have a critical chance to follow up and make the case for a better deal.
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“Scotch whisky holds a unique position, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland. Scotch whisky and Kentucky bourbon have made common cause. This isn’t a case of US business versus imports to the US. Both agree that they want no tariffs. That’s a real strength.”
“Today’s discussions with the President are another chance to make that case and to fight for the very best deal possible for Scotland,” he added.
Swinney is set to return to Scotland on Tuesday night, after arriving on Monday evening.
Swinney also held meetings with Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK’s ambassador to the US –whose residence in the UK embassy he also stayed in on Monday night – along with senior UK officials directly involved in the ongoing UK-US trade talks.
The Scottish Whisky Association has argued for an exemption or a relaxation of the rules for the industry, a call supported by the Scottish and UK Governments.
Swinney previously raised the issue of whisky tariffs with Trump when they met in Aberdeenshire during the summer.
It comes ahead of Trump’s trip to the UK later this month for a state visit from 17 to 19 September.
