Alex Salmond has branded Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump “chicken” as the war of words between the two men continues.
The former SNP leader and first minister last week challenged the US billionaire to debate with him on his new LBC radio show.
Mr Trump called the MP “an embarrassment to Scotland” after Mr Salmond used the show to claim he had overstated his investment in Scotland and his ownership of the Turnberry golf resort could actually lose the country money.
After a call from Mr Trump failed to transpire, phone-in host Iain Dale asked Mr Salmond whether he thought the presidential hopeful was “chicken”.He responded: “The Donald tries to give this impression that he’s totally off the cuff, in fact his media operation controls him and protects him from tough interviews and when he’s had tough interviews he hasn’t liked it, that’s been pretty obvious.
“So, I’ve got the feeling that he’ll be loathe to come on because both you and I would answer him back, just as he’d be loathe to get interviewed by the top interviewers.
“If he doesn’t come on, we’ll keep challenging him and maybe ‘chicken Donald’ will catch on.”
The MP was challenged that he could have said no to the tycoon over the controversial Trump International Golf Links development at Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire which was supported by Scottish ministers.
Mr Salmond said: “If I’d known eight years ago what I know now, I would have done.
“Eight years ago Donald Trump was a registered Democrat who was opposed to the Iraq war and in his previous run for president, believe it or not, he spent his time calling the Republican Pat Buchanan a ‘Hitler lover’ and proposed a wealth tax in America.
“There’s been, how shall I put it, something of a transformation in The Donald.”
The Courier columnist also described Mr Trump’s endorsement by former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin as the “kiss of death as opposed to the dynamic duo”.
She announced her backing by declaring that Mr Trump would “kick Isis ass”.
On Monday a three-hour parliamentary debate was held on whether Mr Trump should be banned from the UK after more than 570,000 people signed a petition.
He caused outrage by demanding a block on Muslims entering the US and claiming parts of London were “so radicali
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a call from Mr Trump failed to transpire, phone-in host Iain Dale asked Mr Salmond whether he thought the presidential hopeful was “chicken”.He responded: “The Donald tries to give this impression that he’s totally off the cuff, in fact his media operation controls him and protects him from tough interviews and when he’s had tough interviews he hasn’t liked it, that’s been pretty obvious.
“So, I’ve got the feeling that he’ll be loathe to come on because both you and I would answer him back, just as he’d be loathe to get interviewed by the top interviewers.
“If he doesn’t come on, we’ll keep challenging him and maybe ‘chicken Donald’ will catch on.”
The MP was challenged that he could have said no to the tycoon over the controversial Trump International Golf Links development at Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire which was supported by Scottish ministers.
Mr Salmond said: “If I’d known eight years ago what I know now, I would have done.
“Eight years ago Donald Trump was a registered Democrat who was opposed to the Iraq war and in his previous run for president, believe it or not, he spent his time calling the Republican Pat Buchanan a ‘Hitler lover’ and proposed a wealth tax in America.
“There’s been, how shall I put it, something of a transformation in The Donald.”
The Courier columnist also described Mr Trump’s endorsement by former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin as the “kiss of death as opposed to the dynamic duo”.
She announced her backing by declaring that Mr Trump would “kick Isis ass”.
On Monday a three-hour parliamentary debate was held on whether Mr Trump should be banned from the UK after more than 570,000 people signed a petition.
He caused outrage by demanding a block on Muslims entering the US and claiming parts of London were “so radicalised” police were “afraid for their own lives”.