John Swinney: ‘No truck’ with far-right encouragement after Elon Musk gesture

First Minister John Swinney has said he will have “no truck” with anyone encouraging the far-right in Scotland when asked about a gesture made by Elon Musk.

The billionaire tech tycoon made what many have likened to a Nazi salute at the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday, though Musk has accused critics of “dirty tricks”.

The first minister, after making a speech in Glasgow on the economy, was asked whether he was happy for his government to continue working with firms owned by Musk.

Swinney said there was a “distinction” to be made between decisions on economic activity and political responses to Musk’s conduct.

He said: “We’ve got to operate within the framework of the law, which will the govern any decisions that we take in relation to Starlink or Tesla.

“We’ve got to separate that from whatever we think about some of the conduct, stances and attitudes put forward by Elon Musk. I am wholly and unreservedly concerned about anything that fuels the growth and the development of the far-right.”

He added that “due diligence” would be taken on any business decisions as legally required, but that his government “won’t have any truck with anyone supporting or encouraging any far-right thinking within Scotland”.

Asked whether the gesture made by Musk was an example of encouraging the far-right, Swinney said: “It certainly looked like that to me.”

On the Trump administration more broadly, the first minister said he had to engage with the US government in a bid to avoid tariffs on exports.

He said: “I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m alert to the dangers of tariffs and the damage that would do to the Scotch whisky industry, which is a significant generator of wealth and income and opportunity within Scotland, so there is absolutely no alternative but for me to engage with the US administration led by President Trump.”

The majority of the first minister’s speech was focused on boosting the Scottish economy. He accepted it was “not yet performing as well as it should”, arguing Scotland “should be wealthier than we are today”.

He called for people to “think big and act bold” and outlined three key areas to be addressed in the years ahead: ensuring growth in the energy sector benefits communities, responding to the challenges posed by an ageing population, and improving the relationship with the EU.

He proposed a Scottish graduate visa scheme as a “first tentative step” towards a more open immigration policy and called for people to start making the case for rejoining the EU.

He added: “I recognise that rejoining the European Union is not going to happen tomorrow. It will take significant effort and choice to make it happen, but have no doubt, if that never happens, then Scotland will pay a heavy price.”