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

Substantial Estimated Expenses Disclosed

Preliminary expenses totalling almost £24.5m for the two official trips have been published by the Scottish government.

Ivan McKee described the UK government's refusal to offer financial support as "ridiculous," stating that both visits were clearly official, 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 Trips and Associated Security Expenses

The former president visited his golfing resorts at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie over a five-day period in the summer, while American VP JD Vance spent approximately four days in Ayrshire in August.

In a written communication to the Treasury minister Chief Secretary Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison wrote that the trips placed "substantial operational and financial burdens on Scottish public services, particularly the Scottish police force."

The Edinburgh administration calculates 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 costs for the vice-president’s trip were approximately £3m.

Large-Scale Security Mission

This complex security mission was the biggest in the country since the passing of the late Queen in 2022, and included regional police, specialist units, special constables and officers from across the UK for specialist support.

The Finance Secretary wrote: "After your choice not to provide funding to the Scottish government for expenses incurred in relation to the trip of Donald Trump to Scotland in summer 2025 and the subsequent trip of Vice-President Vance, I am writing you to ask that you review this decision and offer full reimbursement for the cost of the visits."

UK Government Reply and Previous Example

The UK government stated that the visits were private and "not part of official government duties." A representative added: "The Scottish government must cover policing costs in Scotland as per established funding agreements for devolved matters."

While Robison referenced past instances where the British administration reimbursed the expense of the president's 2018 trip to Scotland, it is understood that trip followed a formal invitation from Westminster, in which instance it covered security costs under its statement of funding policy.

"The UK government needs to step up and pay. I think it’s unreasonable, it was clearly a work visit … Particularly when you have the prime minister Sir Keir spending time with Donald Trump, having press conferences with him, conducting international business with him, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was merely a personal vacation."