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

Significant Estimated Expenses Revealed

Provisional costs totalling nearly £24.5m for the pair of official trips have been published by the Scottish government.

Ivan McKee described the UK government's refusal to offer financial support as "absurd," stating that both trips were obviously work-related, pointing out that the American leader held meetings with European Union chief the EU's von der Leyen and British PM Keir Starmer during his summer stay in Scotland.

Particulars of the Trips and Related Security Expenses

The former president toured his golf courses at Turnberry and Menie over a week-long period in the summer, while US vice-president Vance spent approximately four days in the Ayrshire region in late summer.

In a written communication to the Treasury minister Chief Secretary Murray, Finance Secretary Shona Robison wrote that the visits placed "significant strains and costs on Scottish public services, especially the Scottish police force."

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

Large-Scale Policing Operation

This extensive security mission was the biggest in Scotland since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and involved local officers, specialist units, volunteer officers and officers from across the UK for specialist support.

Robison wrote: "After your decision not to offer financial support to Scotland for expenses incurred in connection with the visit of President Donald Trump to the nation in July 2025 and the subsequent visit of VP Vance, I am writing you to ask that you review this decision and provide full reimbursement for the cost of the trips."

UK Government Response and Previous Example

The UK government stated that the visits were personal and "not part of official government duties." A representative added: "Holyrood are responsible for policing costs in Scotland as per agreed funding agreements for devolved matters."

While the Finance Secretary referenced past instances where the British administration covered the expense of Trump’s 2018 visit to Scotland, it is understood that trip followed a official UK government invitation, in which instance it covered security costs under its statement of funding policy.

"Westminster must take action and cover the cost. I think it’s unreasonable, it was obviously a work visit … Especially when you have the PM Sir Keir spending time with Donald Trump, having press conferences with him, engaging in global diplomacy with him, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was merely a private holiday trip."