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The UK government is being called upon to "take responsibility" and reimburse the £24.5 million cost incurred during recent visits by Donald Trump and Vice-President Vance to Scotland, according to a top Holyrood official.

Substantial Estimated Expenses Disclosed

Preliminary expenses totalling almost £24.5m for the two working visits have been made public by the administration in Edinburgh.

Public Finance Minister McKee labeled the UK government's unwillingness to provide funding as "ridiculous," stating that both trips were obviously official, noting that the American leader held discussions with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and British PM Sir Keir Starmer during his summer visit in Scotland.

Details of the Trips and Associated Security Expenses

Donald Trump visited his golfing resorts at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie over a five-day period in July, while American VP Vance spent approximately four days in the Ayrshire region in late summer.

In a written communication to the Treasury’s chief secretary James Murray, Scotland’s finance secretary wrote that the trips placed "significant operational and financial burdens on public services in Scotland, particularly Police Scotland."

The Edinburgh administration calculates that the estimated expense for securing the presidential visit by itself was £21m, which involved maximum daily assignments of more than 4,000 officers, while costs for the VP's visit were approximately £3 million.

Complex Security Mission

This extensive policing operation was the largest in the country since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and included local officers, national divisions, special constables and officers from across the UK for specialist support.

The Finance Secretary wrote: "After your choice not to provide funding to Scotland for costs accrued in connection with the visit of Donald Trump to the nation in summer 2025 and the following trip of Vice-President JD Vance, I am writing you to request that you review this stance and provide full reimbursement for the cost of the trips."

UK Government Reply and Past Precedent

The British administration stated that the trips were personal and "not official UK government business." A spokesperson added: "The Scottish government are responsible for security expenses in the country as per agreed devolved funding arrangements."

While Robison referenced past instances where the UK government reimbursed the cost of the president's 2018 trip to the nation, it is understood that trip came after a official invitation from Westminster, in which instance it covered protection expenses under its funding guidelines.

"Westminster needs to step up and pay. I think it’s ridiculous, it was obviously a work visit … Especially when you have the PM Sir Keir meeting with Donald Trump, having press conferences with them, conducting international business with him, its really hard to believe to say this was just a private holiday trip."