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

Substantial Provisional Costs Disclosed

Provisional costs totalling nearly £24.5m for the two official trips have been published by the administration in Edinburgh.

Public Finance Minister McKee labeled the Westminster's unwillingness to offer financial support as "ridiculous," stating that both visits were clearly work-related, pointing out that the American leader held discussions with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and British PM Keir Starmer during his July visit in Scotland.

Particulars of the Visits and Associated Policing Costs

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

In a written communication to the Treasury’s chief secretary Chief Secretary Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison wrote that the visits placed "significant strains and costs on Scottish public services, especially Police Scotland."

The Scottish government estimates that the estimated expense for securing the president's trip alone was £21 million, which reflected peak daily deployments of more than 4,000 officers, while expenses for the VP's visit were about £3 million.

Large-Scale Policing Operation

This complex security mission was the biggest in Scotland since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and included regional police, specialist units, special constables and wider UK colleagues for specialist support.

Robison stated: "After your choice not to offer financial support to Scotland for costs incurred in relation to the visit of Donald Trump to the nation in summer 2025 and the following trip of VP JD Vance, I am contacting you to ask that you review this decision and provide complete repayment for the cost of the trips."

Westminster Response and Past Precedent

The British administration stated that the trips were personal and "not official UK government business." A spokesperson added: "Holyrood must cover policing costs in the country as per agreed funding agreements for devolved matters."

While the Finance Secretary referenced past instances where the British administration covered the expense of the president's 2018 trip to Scotland, it is understood that trip followed a formal invitation from Westminster, in which case 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 Keir Starmer spending time with the president, having press conferences with him, engaging in international business with them, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was just a personal vacation."