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The British administration is being urged to "take responsibility" and cover the £24.5 million expense incurred during the recent visits by Donald Trump and JD Vance to Scotland, according to a top Scottish minister.

Substantial Estimated Expenses Revealed

Provisional costs amounting to almost £24.5m for the two working visits have been published by the Scottish government.

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 EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and UK prime minister Keir Starmer during his summer stay in Scotland.

Particulars of the Trips and Associated Security Expenses

Donald Trump toured his golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire over a five-day trip in July, while US vice-president Vance spent around a long weekend in the Ayrshire region in late summer.

In a formal letter to the Treasury’s chief secretary James Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison stated that the trips placed "substantial operational and financial burdens on public services in Scotland, especially the Scottish police force."

The Scottish government estimates that the estimated expense for securing the president's trip alone was £21m, which reflected maximum daily assignments of more than four thousand police, while expenses for the VP's visit were about £3m.

Complex Security Mission

This extensive policing operation was the biggest in Scotland since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and included regional police, specialist units, volunteer officers and wider UK colleagues for expert assistance.

Robison stated: "Following your decision not to offer financial support to Scotland for expenses accrued in connection with the visit of Donald Trump to the nation in July 2025 and the following trip of VP Vance, I am writing you to request that you review this stance and offer complete repayment for the expense of the trips."

UK Government Response and Previous Example

The UK government maintained that the trips were private and "not official UK government business." A spokesperson added: "The Scottish government are responsible for policing costs in the country as per agreed devolved funding arrangements."

While Robison pointed to previous precedent where the British administration reimbursed the cost of the president's 2018 trip to the nation, it is believed that visit followed a formal invitation from Westminster, in which instance it covered protection expenses under its statement of funding policy.

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