London(CNN) US President Donald Trump -- just like anyone from outside the country -- would not be welcome in Scotland at the moment due to coronavirus-related restrictions, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Tuesday.
Sturgeon was asked during a news conference about unconfirmed Scottish media speculation that Trump could be planning a trip to one of his golf courses in Scotland around the time of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday dismissed the speculation as incorrect. "This is not accurate. President Trump has no plans to travel to Scotland," McEnany told CNN in a statement.
On Monday, Sturgeon ordered most of Scotland into a harsh new lockdown for the rest of January, as Covid-19 cases and deaths spike across the United Kingdom.
The order imposes a legal requirement on Scottish residents to stay at home except for essential purpose, including caring responsibilities, essential shopping, essential exercise and being part of an extended household.
"I have no idea what Donald Trump's travel plans are," Sturgeon said. "You'll be glad to know I hope and expect ... that the travel plan that he immediately has is to exit the White House. But beyond that I don't know."
"We are not allowing people to come into Scotland without an essential purpose right now. And that would apply to him just as it applies to anybody else," she added.
"Coming to play golf is not what I would consider to be an essential purpose."