Former US president Donald Trump has bid “good riddance” to Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following her shock resignation announcement.

Referring to Ms Sturgeon as a “failed woke extremist”, he also accused the outgoing leader of the Scottish National Party of fighting him over his golf courses in Scotland.

Criticising her government’s controversial gender reforms which have sparked a major row in recent weeks, Mr Trump insisted that the people of Scotland would be “much better off” without Ms Sturgeon in the top job.

“Good riddance to failed woke extremist Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland!” he said in a statement.

“This crazed leftist symbolises everything wrong with identity politics.

“Sturgeon thought it was OK to put a biological man in a women’s prison, and if that wasn’t bad enough, Sturgeon fought for a ‘Gender Recognition Reform Bill’ that would have allowed 16-year-old children to change their gender without medical advice.

“I built the greatest golf properties in the world in Scotland, but she fought me all the way, making my job much more difficult.

Nikki Haley to challenge Donald Trump for 2024 Republican presidential nomination

Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram pages are restored after ban

Donald Trump kicks off his 2024 White House bid – and says he’s ‘more committed than ever’

“The wonderful people of Scotland are much better off without Sturgeon in office!”

Read more:
Nicola Sturgeon’s time as Scotland’s first minister in 10 charts
How she survived ‘cesspit of vipers’ but failed to achieve dream
The controversies which piled pressure on Sturgeon

The SNP leader made the shock resignation announcement during a press conference in Edinburgh at her official residence, Bute House.

The 52-year-old said it had been “the very best job in the world” and one that has “sustained and inspired me in good times and in the toughest hours of my toughest days”.

But Ms Sturgeon said she believed part of “serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right” to step down, adding: “In my head and in my heart I know that time is now, that it is right for me and my party and for the country.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The longest serving and first woman first minister insisted her decision was not down to “short term pressures”, such as the ongoing divisions in her party about transgender rights.

A senior Labour source said her decision showed it was “all over” for the independence campaign, and showed “after 15 years of failure, the SNP have run out of road”.

There have been a number of tricky issues for Ms Sturgeon in recent months, including splits in the party over her approach to transgender rights, and over her bill on gender recognition.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Despite passing the legislation in Holyrood – which would have meant people could legally change their gender in Scotland without a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria – the bill was then blocked by Westminster, with ministers claiming it would have a “significant impact” on equalities.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who has been a longstanding critic of Ms Sturgeon’s approach on transgender issues, called for “reform and healing” in light of the first minister’s departure.

Related posts:

Cummings reveals four demands he made of PM in living room deal to join Number 10 Why the Tories should be worried by Lib Dems’ shock win – and why it’s not all bad news for Labour MPs could get police protection for constituency surgeries in wake of Sir David Amess killing – Patel Sir David Amess’s family says they are ‘absolutely broken, but we will survive’ after MP’s murder Cabinet minister ‘would have probably slapped’ Stanley Johnson if he touched her Minister confirms govt ‘unable to locate’ minutes of call between Owen Paterson, Randox and officials Next COVID variant ‘could be more severe’ and future winters will be ‘tricky’, govt advisers say Scotland to end COVID passport scheme next Monday as more restrictions eased Minister given ‘categorical assurance’ PM did not know about ‘serious specific’ Pincher allegations Starmer to outline Labour’s plan to ‘make Brexit work’ Boris Johnson knew of some reports about disgraced MP’s behaviour before appointing him, Downing Street admits Sunak boasts of taking money from ‘deprived urban areas’ for wealthy towns