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The UK government is being called upon to "step up" and cover the £24.5m cost incurred during the recent trips by former President Trump and Vice-President Vance to the Scottish nation, according to a top Holyrood official.

Significant Estimated Expenses Disclosed

Preliminary expenses amounting to almost £24.5 million for the pair of working visits have been made public by the Scottish government.

Public Finance Minister McKee described the UK government's unwillingness to offer financial support as "ridiculous," stating that both trips were clearly work-related, noting that the US president held discussions with European Union chief the EU's von der Leyen and British PM Keir Starmer during his July visit in Scotland.

Particulars of the Trips and Associated Policing Costs

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

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

The Scottish government calculates that the estimated expense for policing the president's trip by itself was £21 million, which involved maximum daily assignments of over 4,000 officers, while costs for the vice-president’s trip were about £3 million.

Complex Policing Operation

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

Robison wrote: "After your decision not to provide funding to the Scottish government for expenses accrued in relation to the trip of President Donald Trump to the nation in July 2025 and the following visit of Vice-President JD Vance, I am writing you to request that you review this decision and offer full reimbursement for the cost of the trips."

Westminster Response and Past Precedent

The UK government stated that the trips were personal and "not official UK government business." A representative added: "Holyrood must cover policing costs in the country as per established devolved funding arrangements."

While the Finance Secretary referenced previous precedent where the British administration covered the cost of Trump’s 2018 visit to the nation, it is believed that visit followed a official UK government invitation, in which case it included protection expenses under its statement of funding policy.

"Westminster must take action and pay. I think it’s ridiculous, it was obviously a work visit … Particularly when you have the prime minister Keir Starmer spending time with Donald Trump, having press conferences with him, engaging in international business with them, its really hard to believe to say this was just a personal vacation."