Alex Salmond has branded Donald Trump “crazy” after the American businessman further fanned the flames of controversy by suggesting more British Muslims joined Islamic terrorists than the army.
The former first minister has added his voice to the growing criticism surrounding the Republican presidential candidate, who recently argued Muslims should be banned from entering the United States.
On Twitter yesterday, Mr Trump claimed: “In Britain, more Muslims join Isis than join the British Army”.
Nicola Sturgeon has already stripped Mr Trump of his GlobalScot ambassador status, while Robert Gordon University have also removed his honorary degree from the institution.
A petition, calling for Mr Trump to be banned from entering the United Kingdom, has reached more than 500,000 signatures – making it the most popular in history.
In an interview with Russian TV channel Russia Today, which will be broadcast today, Mr Salmond said: “Most presidents of the United States or UK prime ministers usually have about ten years in office before they go crazy.
“Donald Trump has made it as a candidate.”
Mr Salmond and Mr Trump have enjoyed a stormy relationship in recent times, with the pair engaging in a high-profile bust-up over wind farms off the Aberdeenshire coast.
Earlier this week, SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh called on Home Secretary Theresa May to consider banning Mr Trump from the UK, following his suggestion that there should be a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”.
The US billionaire also claimed parts of London were “so radicalised” the city’s police force fear for their lives.
But he received support from media personality Katie Hopkins, who went on US television channel Fox News to defend Mr Trump.
A counter petition, calling for Mr Trump not to be refused entry to the UK, has also been created and has received more than 30,000 signatures.
David Gladwin, who started the latter petition, said: “Leave the decision making on appropriate responses to the Americans. Let’s mind our own business.”
Polls taken in the US after Mr Trump’s original remarks were publicised showed a spike in support among Republican primary voters, with Mr Trump on around 35% and as many as 20 points ahead of his main rivals.