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The British administration is being called upon to "take responsibility" and reimburse the £24.5 million cost incurred during recent trips by former President Trump and JD Vance to Scotland, according to a senior Scottish minister.

Significant Provisional Costs Revealed

Preliminary expenses totalling nearly £24.5 million for the pair of official trips have been published by the Scottish government.

Public Finance Minister McKee described the Westminster's unwillingness to provide funding as "absurd," stating that both visits were clearly official, pointing out that the American leader held discussions with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and UK prime minister Keir Starmer during his summer stay in the northern nation.

Details of the Visits and Associated Policing Costs

Donald Trump visited his golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie over a five-day period in July, while US vice-president JD Vance spent approximately a long weekend in Ayrshire in August.

In a written communication to the Treasury minister Chief Secretary Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison stated that the visits placed "substantial operational and financial burdens on Scottish public services, particularly Police Scotland."

The Edinburgh administration estimates that the estimated expense for securing the presidential visit alone was £21m, which involved maximum daily assignments of over 4,000 officers, while costs for the VP's visit were about £3 million.

Complex Policing Operation

This complex policing operation was the biggest in the country since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and included local officers, specialist units, volunteer officers and officers from across the UK for expert assistance.

The Finance Secretary wrote: "Following your choice not to offer financial support to Scotland for costs incurred in relation to the trip of President Donald Trump to the nation in July 2025 and the subsequent trip of VP JD Vance, I am writing you to request that you review this stance and offer full reimbursement for the expense of the trips."

UK Government Response and Past Precedent

The British administration stated that the visits were personal and "not official UK government business." A representative added: "Holyrood must cover security expenses in Scotland as per agreed funding agreements for devolved matters."

While the Finance Secretary pointed to past instances where the UK government covered the expense of Trump’s 2018 visit to Scotland, it is understood that trip followed a formal UK government invitation, in which case it covered protection expenses under its statement of funding policy.

"Westminster must take action and cover the cost. I think it’s ridiculous, it was clearly a official trip … Particularly when you have the PM Keir Starmer meeting with the president, holding joint briefings with him, conducting international business with him, its really hard to believe to say this was just a personal vacation."