The inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the US is shaping up to be one of those occasions at which so many more people will claim to be present than is physically possible.

Now that sub zero temperatures have forced a move inside the Capitol it will be a tighter squeeze still, even with Michelle Obama reportedly giving her place to someone else. When they go low, Michelle goes “Bye”.

Almost as coveted as a spot at the inauguration is the position of “Trump whisperer”, the man or woman who can offer a unique, compelling insight into The Donald and his ways. Potential applicants for the job are popping up everywhere, including the Sunday politics shows.

First to stake his claim was Piers Morgan on BBC1’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. “With Trump you just have to be straight with him,” said the broadcaster. “You have to understand he’s America first, America first, America first. Also, if you have a great idea for what could benefit the UK, try and make Trump think it is his idea.”

On the panel with Morgan was Fiona Hill, a former aide to Theresa May. Greenock-born Hill said dealing with Trump had been a “perfectly fine” experience. “People write him off as being a buffoon but he’s not. I remember vividly the first security briefing we had with him, the day after the last inauguration, and he was really up to speed on all the complex issues that we were facing.”

Hill thought he felt a “palpable” connection with the UK. “He sees the UK as an extension of how he sees his own........

© Herald Scotland