Donald Trump’s actions towards women are “misogyny at its worst” and he should not be elected US President, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The SNP leader weighed into the debate over the Atlantic following a series of revelations, including comments in leaked footage which included him bragging about his fame allowing him to “do anything” to women.
And the first female Scottish First Minister backed Hilary Clinton to be the first female American President.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I’m horrified not just at the comments that he has made, or in some cases reportedly made, things he has reportedly done, but also the dismissal of that kind of language and those kind of attitudes as just ‘locker room banter.’
“That is really misogyny at its worst and I think we’ve all got to stand up against that.
“It is not usual for politicians in other countries to comment on elections in other countries and certainly not for leaders of governments to do so.
“This is America’s election and it is up to America how it votes but how America votes, who is the President of America, has implications for the rest of the world so I’m not going to beat about the bush here.
“I hope America doesn’t elect Donald Trump as President. I hope it elects Hilary Clinton.
“I think she would be the better President for a whole variety of reasons but I also think it would be a really good moment to see America elect its first female President.”
The presidential hopeful, who has familial ties to Scotland and owns golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire, has blamed the accusations on White House rival Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the news media.
“These vicious claims about me, of inappropriate conduct with women, are totally and absolutely false. And the Clintons know it,” Mr Trump said.
His accusers, he said, “are horrible people. They’re horrible, horrible liars”.
Prime Minister Theresa May, in her former role as home secretary, rebuked Mr Trump for being “plain wrong” to accuse British Muslims of failing to report suspected terrorists.
During his time as London mayor, Boris Johnson – now Foreign Secretary – said Mr Trump was “unfit to hold the office of the president of the United States” for his comments about Islamist radicalisation in London.
And while he was in Number 10, David Cameron said Mr Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the US was “divisive, stupid and wrong”.
