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The UK government is being called upon to "take responsibility" and cover the £24.5m expense incurred during recent visits by former President Trump and Vice-President Vance to Scotland, according to a top Scottish minister.

Significant Provisional Costs Disclosed

Provisional costs totalling nearly £24.5 million for the two working visits have been made public by the Scottish government.

Public Finance Minister McKee described the UK government's refusal to offer financial support as "absurd," stating that both trips were obviously official, pointing out that the US president held meetings with EU Commission president the EU's von der Leyen and British PM Sir Keir Starmer during his July stay in Scotland.

Particulars of the Visits and Related Policing Costs

Donald Trump toured his golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie over a week-long trip in the summer, while American VP Vance spent around four days in Ayrshire in late summer.

In a formal letter to the Treasury’s chief secretary Chief Secretary Murray, Scotland’s finance secretary wrote that the visits placed "substantial strains and costs on Scottish public services, particularly Police Scotland."

The Scottish government estimates that the estimated expense for securing the president's trip by itself was £21m, which involved maximum daily assignments of more than 4,000 officers, while costs for the vice-president’s trip were about £3m.

Complex Security Mission

This complex policing operation was the largest 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 specialist support.

Robison stated: "Following 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 subsequent visit of VP JD Vance, I am writing you to ask that you reconsider this stance and offer complete repayment for the cost of the visits."

Westminster Response and Past Precedent

The British administration maintained that the visits were personal and "not part of official government duties." A spokesperson added: "Holyrood must cover security expenses in Scotland as per agreed devolved funding arrangements."

While Robison referenced previous precedent where the UK government reimbursed the expense of Trump’s 2018 visit to the nation, it is understood that visit followed a formal UK government invitation, in which case it included security costs under its statement of funding policy.

"The UK government must take action and cover the cost. I think it’s unreasonable, it was obviously a work visit … Especially when you have the prime minister Keir Starmer meeting with Donald Trump, holding joint briefings with him, engaging in international business with him, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was just a personal vacation."