The UK government is being called upon to "take responsibility" and cover the £24.5 million expense incurred during recent visits by Donald Trump and Vice-President Vance to Scotland, according to a top Holyrood official.
Significant Estimated Expenses Disclosed
Preliminary costs totalling nearly £24.5m for the two working visits have been published by the administration in Edinburgh.
Public Finance Minister McKee described the UK government's refusal to offer financial support as "ridiculous," arguing that both visits were clearly official, noting that the American leader held discussions with European Union chief the EU's von der Leyen and British PM Sir Keir Starmer during his July visit in Scotland.
Particulars of the Trips and Associated Security Expenses
The former president visited his golf courses at Turnberry and Menie over a five-day trip in the summer, while US vice-president Vance spent around a long weekend in Ayrshire in late summer.
In a written communication to the Treasury’s chief secretary Chief Secretary Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison wrote that the visits placed "substantial operational and financial burdens on Scottish public services, especially Police Scotland."
The Edinburgh administration estimates that the estimated expense for policing the presidential visit by itself was £21 million, which involved maximum daily assignments of more than four thousand police, while costs for the vice-president’s trip were approximately £3 million.
Complex Policing Operation
This complex policing operation was the largest in the country since the passing of the late Queen in 2022, and included local officers, national divisions, special constables and officers from across the UK for specialist support.
Robison stated: "After your choice not to offer financial support to Scotland for costs accrued in connection with the trip of Donald Trump to the nation in summer 2025 and the following trip of Vice-President Vance, I am writing you to request that you reconsider this decision and provide complete repayment for the expense of the trips."
UK Government Reply and Past Precedent
The UK government stated that the trips were personal and "not official UK government business." A spokesperson commented: "The Scottish government are responsible for security expenses in the country as per established devolved funding arrangements."
While Robison pointed to previous precedent where the UK government reimbursed the cost of the president's 2018 trip to Scotland, it is understood that trip came after a official invitation from Westminster, in which instance it included protection expenses under its statement of funding policy.
"The UK government must take action and pay. I think it’s ridiculous, it was obviously a work visit … Particularly when you have the PM Sir Keir spending time with the president, holding joint briefings with him, engaging in international business with them, its really hard to believe to say this was merely a private holiday trip."
