NICOLA Sturgeon admitted she felt a “sense of discomfort and foreboding” as she watched Donald Trump’s attempt to claim victory in the US election.
Speaking at the Scottish Government's daily coronavirus briefing, the First Minister said all votes need to be counted in the US vote to protect the "integrity of American democracy".
Sturgeon said: "I think what is most important right now is the integrity of American democracy.
"All votes should be counted and I think that is an important principle and the outcome of the election should be respected.
READ MORE: US election: Nicola Sturgeon says next hours and days are 'crucial' for democracy
"I won't be the only one who listened to the president's speech earlier this morning with a sense of discomfort and foreboding.
"I hope sensible voices in America come to the fore in terms of the protection of the integrity of democracy - whatever the direction the final few state tallies take us in."
Asked about the impact of the US election on global efforts to tackle coronavirus, Sturgeon added: "The outcome of American elections matter to the whole world, even though the whole world doesn't have a say in them, and that is true on Covid-19.
"We want to see the world's biggest democracy taking a responsible leadership role.
"It's really important that - whoever emerges as the eventual winner from this - that there is a real focus on making sure that the virus is controlled and suppressed in America, and that on things vaccines and technological developments America is playing a responsible role, which I hope would be the case."
READ MORE: WATCH: Boris Johnson won't condemn Donald Trump over election fraud claim
Earlier today, Boris Johnson refused to criticise Trump's claims of "major fraud" in the House of Commons.
Both Labour leader Keir Starmer and SNP Westminster chief Ian Blackford urged the Prime Minister to condemn the president’s incendiary decision to claim victory in the US election.
In an extraordinary early morning statement from Trump, the tycoon claimed there had been widespread “fraud on the American public.”
He said. “This is an embarrassment to our country.”
The president added: “We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election.
He pledged to fight the results of the election at the Supreme Court, saying he wanted all “voting to stop”.
During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Question, Starmer asked Johnson to join him in saying “that it's not for a candidate to decide which votes do and don't count, or when to stop counting”.
“The next president must be the free and fair choice of the American people,” he added.
Johnson replied: “Of course, we don't comment as a UK government on the democratic processes of our friends and allies and I don't think, in all seriousness, he would expect otherwise.”
Blackford then asked: "I would like to take the opportunity to send my best wishes to our friends in the US during this anxious time. Donald Trump claimed an unsupported victory and ‘major fraud’ with millions of legitimate ballots left to count – I hope the Prime Minister will join me in condemning his actions this morning."
The Prime Minister didn’t respond.
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