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The UK government is being urged to "take responsibility" and cover the £24.5 million expense incurred during the recent trips by former President Trump and Vice-President Vance to the Scottish nation, according to a top Scottish minister.

Substantial Provisional Costs Disclosed

Provisional costs amounting to nearly £24.5 million for the two official trips have been published by the administration in Edinburgh.

Ivan McKee described the Westminster's unwillingness to offer financial support as "ridiculous," arguing that both visits were clearly official, noting that the US president held meetings with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and UK prime minister Keir Starmer during his July stay in Scotland.

Details of the Trips and Associated Security Expenses

Donald Trump visited his golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie over a week-long trip in the summer, while US vice-president Vance spent around a long weekend in the Ayrshire region in August.

In a written communication to the Treasury minister Chief Secretary Murray, Scotland’s finance secretary stated that the trips placed "substantial strains and costs on public services in Scotland, especially Police Scotland."

The Scottish government calculates that the provisional cost for policing the president's trip alone was £21 million, which reflected peak daily deployments of over 4,000 officers, while costs for the VP's visit were approximately £3m.

Large-Scale Security Mission

This extensive policing operation was the biggest in Scotland since the passing of the late Queen in 2022, and involved regional police, national divisions, special constables and officers from across the UK for expert assistance.

The Finance Secretary stated: "Following your choice not to provide funding to Scotland for expenses incurred in relation to the visit of President Donald Trump to Scotland in summer 2025 and the following trip of VP Vance, I am contacting you to ask that you review this decision and offer complete repayment for the cost of the visits."

UK Government Response and Past Precedent

The UK government maintained that the visits were personal and "not official UK government business." A representative commented: "The Scottish government are responsible for security expenses in Scotland as per agreed funding agreements for devolved matters."

While Robison referenced past instances where the UK government reimbursed the expense of Trump’s 2018 visit to Scotland, it is believed that visit came after a official UK government invitation, in which case it covered security costs under its statement of funding policy.

"Westminster must take action and cover the cost. I think it’s ridiculous, it was clearly a work visit … Particularly when you have the PM Sir Keir meeting with Donald Trump, having press conferences with him, conducting global diplomacy with him, its really hard to believe to say this was merely a personal vacation."