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The British administration is being urged to "take responsibility" and cover the £24.5m cost incurred during recent trips by former President Trump and JD Vance to the Scottish nation, according to a top Scottish minister.

Substantial Estimated Expenses Revealed

Provisional expenses totalling nearly £24.5 million for the two official trips have been made public by the Scottish government.

Public Finance Minister McKee labeled the Westminster's unwillingness to provide funding as "ridiculous," arguing that both trips were clearly work-related, pointing out that the American leader held discussions with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and UK prime minister Keir Starmer during his summer stay in Scotland.

Details of the Visits and Associated Policing Costs

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

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

The Scottish government calculates that the estimated expense for securing the presidential visit by itself was £21 million, which reflected maximum daily assignments of more than four thousand police, while costs for the vice-president’s trip were about £3 million.

Large-Scale Policing Operation

This complex security mission was the biggest in Scotland since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and included local officers, specialist units, volunteer officers and officers from across the UK for expert assistance.

Robison stated: "Following your decision not to offer financial support to Scotland for costs incurred in connection with the trip of Donald Trump to Scotland in summer 2025 and the subsequent visit of VP Vance, I am writing you to request that you reconsider this stance and offer full reimbursement for the cost of the visits."

UK Government Reply and Past Precedent

The British administration stated that the visits were personal and "not official UK government business." A spokesperson added: "Holyrood are responsible for policing costs in the country as per established funding agreements for devolved matters."

While the Finance Secretary pointed to past instances where the UK government covered the cost of Trump’s 2018 visit to the nation, it is understood that visit came after a official UK government invitation, in which instance it covered protection expenses under its funding guidelines.

"Westminster needs to step up and cover the cost. I think it’s unreasonable, it was clearly a work visit … Especially when you have the PM Sir Keir spending time with the president, having press conferences with them, engaging in global diplomacy with him, its really stretching the bounds of credibility to say this was just a personal vacation."